
Class JI J 
Copyright^ 

COPVRIGHT DEPOSIT. 



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The Abridged 

Treasury of Prayers 



An Epitome from the Larger 

11 Gebets-Schatz " Published 

by Concordia Publishing 

House, St. Louis, Mo. 



American Lutheran Publication Board 
Pittsburgh, Pa. 



UB2ARY of CONGRESS 

two Copies Received 

MAR 4 ?90f 

t Copyrifrhi Entry 
/Wv> / J,/ fo L 
CLASS X XXc M No. 

/U 7/<f 
bopy b/ 



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**1 



Revised by 

Synod's Board of Revision. 

1906. 



Table of Contents 



Preparatory Prayers 



Page. 

For True Devotion ." . 9 

For True Worthiness in Prayer 9 

A Prayer of Comfort with Respect to Sin 

and Unworthiness 10 

A Prayer Based on God's Command and 

Promise -. 10 

Assurance of Being Heard for Christ's Sake, 11 

God Heareth Us 12 

Preparatory to the Lord's Supper .... 13 



Morning Prayer for Sunday 14 

Before Going to Church 14 

Evening Prayer for Sunday 16 

A Second Evening Prayer for Sunday ...» 16 

Morning Prayer for Monday 18 

Evening Prayer for Monday 19 

Morning Prayer for Tuesday 19 

Evening Prayer for Tuesday 20; 

3 



Page. 

9. Morning Prayer for Wednesday 21 

10. Evening Prayer for Wednesday 22 

11. Morning Prayer for Thursday 23 

12. Evening Prayer for Thursday 24 

13. Morning Prayer for Friday 25 

14. Evening Prayer for Friday 25 

15. Morning Prayer for Saturday 26 

16. Evening Prayer for Saturday 27 

17. Daily Renewal of the Baptismal Coven- 

ant 28 

18. Prayer on a Birthday 30 

19. Prayer for Children 32 

20. A Prayer for Young People 34 

21. A Prayer for Servants 35 

22. Prayer of a Husband 37 

23. Prayer of a Wife 39 

24. Prayer for the Aged 40 

25. A Prayer for the Proper Performance of 

One's Duties 41 

26. A Prayer before Work 42 

27. A Prayer for Blessing in One's Calling, . . 43 

28. A Prayer of Luther on the Passage: "Cast- 

ing all your Care upon Him, for He 

Careth for you" 44 

29. Prayer in View of an Undertaking of 

Moment 45 

SO. Thanksgiving upon Completion of Work, 46 

4 



Page. ' 

Prayer while on a Journey 47 

Prayer When Putting out to Sea 48 

Prayer of a Voyager in a Storm 49 

Brief Instruction on Confession and Ab- 
solution 51 

A Poor Sinner Laments the Impenitence 

of His Heart 55 

Prayer for True Conversion 57 

Prayer for Forgiveness of Sin 59 

A Prayer for Reconciliation with our 

Neighbor 62 

Brief Instruction on Holy Communion 63 

Morning Prayer for a Communicant G9 

Prayer for a Worthy Communion 71 

A Prayer of Thanksgiving upon Partak- 
ing of Holy Communion 72 

Prayer for Preservation from Sin, and 

their Remission when Committed 74 

A Prayer of Meditation on the Suffer- 
ings of Christ 75 

Prayer at Time of Drouth 77 

Prayer for Sunshine in a Season of Con- 
tinued Rains 78 

Prayer for the Fruits of the Fields 80 

Prayer during a Thunderstorm 81 

A Prayer of Thanks after the Thunder- 
storm 82 

5 



Page. 

48. Prayer in Great Weakness of Faith 83 

49. A Prayer in Great Distress and Danger . . 84 

50. A Prayer of Thanks after a Safe Journey, 85 

51. Thanks for Deliverance from Affliction . . 86 

52. Morning Prayer for a Sick Person 87 

53. Another Morning Prayer for a Sick Person, 87 

54. Evening Prayer for a Sick Person 89 

55 Another Evening Prayer for a Sick Person, 90 

56. A Prayer in Sickness 91 

57. Prayer of Contrition in Sickness 93 

58. Brief Prayers for the Sick. For each 

Hour of the Day 95 

59. Thank Offering after Recovery 102 

60. Three Prayers in the Hour of Death 104 

61. A Prayer of Those Present for a Person 

in the Agonies of Death 106 

62. Another Prayer 107 

63. A Short Litany together with Prayers 

for a Dying Person 107 

64. A Prayer after the Patient has Departed 

in the Lord 110 



Appendix I 



1. Prayer at Beginning of a New Church 

Year Ill 

2. Prayer for the Advent Season 114 

6 



Page. 

3. A Christmas Prayer 115 

4. A Prayer on New Year's Day 117 

5. Prayer on Epiphany 121 

6. Prayer on Day of Purification 122 

7. Prayer on Day of Annunciation 124 

8. Prayer on Maundy-Thursday 126 

9. Prayer on Good Friday 127 

10. Prayer on Eastertide 129 

11. Prayer on Ascension Day 130 

12. Prayer on Day of Pentecost 132 

13. Prayer on Festival of Holy Trinity 133 

14. Prayer on Day of John the Baptist 136 

15. Prayer on the Day of the Visitation of 

Mary 137 

16. Prayer on St. Michael's Day 138 

17. Prayer on Reformation Festival 140 

18. A Prayer on the Day of Church Dedi- 

cation 142 

19. A Prayer on Harvest Festival 143 

20. Prayer on Mission Festival 145 

21. From Casper Neumann's "Cream of 

Prayers" 147 

Appendix II 

Hymns , . .154-164 

Appendix III 

Prayer of a Mother for Wayward Children 165 

7 



Page. 
Prayer of a Mother before being Delivered of 

a Child 168 

Thanksgiving after a Happy Birth 169 

Prayer of a Husband at the Birth of a still- 
born Child 170 

Prayer of a Mother who has given Birth to 

a Deformed Child 171 

Prayer before being Subjected to an Operation, 172 

Prayer for a Happy Death 174 

Prayer of a Dying Person for his Family and 

Friends 174 

Appendix IV 

Prayers for Children 176-178 

Appendix V 

Form for Emergency Baptism 179 



A 



Preparatory Prayers 



For True Devotion 



O LORD, I come upon Thy will and command, 
bringing all my petitions, even those very things 
that hinder and would prevent my coming to Thee 
— my sins that trouble me greatly, and I ask Thee 
to remove and forgive them. Amen. 



For True Worthiness in Prayer 

O LORD, Thine honor and Thy service, which 
tends to Thy praise, I have in view, when now 
humbly praying; therefore, O dear Lord, do not 
look upon my unworthiness, but upon my great 
need of Thy help : Thou art the true and only help 
of sinners. Thy honor is to be advanced by my 
prayer ; and even as I cannot do without Thine aid, 
so Thou canst give and wilt give to those who ask 
Thee. — Amen. Amen. 



10 



3 



A Prayer of Comfort with Respect to Sin and 
Unworthiness 

It matters not what kind of a person I am, for 
though I am a sinner, I know my Lord Jesus Christ 
is not, He is ever just and gracious. So I will 
confidently call and cry to Him, not considering 
other questions; for now is not the time to ask 
whether I be elected or not. This one thing I feel, 
that I need help, so I come and seek it in all hu- 
mility. — Dear Lord God, the Canaanite woman was 
a Gentile; she could conclude, yea, could hardly 
help but conclude that she was not elected. If now 
she approaches Thee and does not permit such 
thoughts to prevent her prayer, I shall do the same 
and say: Lord, I come before Thee and am in need 
of one thing and another; whence else shall I ob- 
tain help but from Thee in heaven, through Thine 
Only Son, my Savior, Christ Jesus? Amen. 

4 

A Prayer Based on God's Command and Promise 

DEAE LORD GOD, Thou knowest I do not pre- 
sume to come before Thee of mine own self, or 
relying on my own worthiness, for, when looking to 



11 



this, I dare not raise mine eyes to Thee, nor would 
I know how to begin my prayer. But I come, bas- 
ing on Thy most earnest desire and command that 
we should call upon Thee, and on Thy promise 
to hear us. Besides, Thou hast sent Thine Own 
Son, who taught us how to pray, giving us the very; 
words. Hence I know that, Let my presumption in 
calling myself a child of Thine appear as great as 
it will, I do so in obedience to Thy will. Otherwise 
I would charge Thee with falsehood, and heap up- 
on myself, in addition to my other sins, the graver 
one of despising Thy command and doubting Thy 
promise. 



5 

Assurance of Being Heard for Christ's Sake 

O GOD, Creator of heaven and earth, who hast 
sent Thy Son, Christ Jesus, for me into this world, 
that He might be crucified for me, die and rise 
again on the third day, ascend to heaven and there 
sit at Thy right hand, hold everything in His hand, 
send us His Spirit and have us await His coming 
to judge both the quick and the dead, thus attain- 
ing to the eternal kingdom, our inheritance, which 
Thou wilt give to us through Him. To that end, 



12 



O Lord God, Thou has instituted Holy Baptism, 
and the Sacrament of the body and blood of Thy 
Son; to these sacraments Christ has bound us, and 
therein He has revealed Himself to us. If in these 
Sacraments we lay hold on Christ, we surely have 
Him. All other things not enjoined on us we 
should dispense with, otherwise we would far miss 
the mark. 



God Heareth Us 



DEAK FATHEE In heaven, Thou lovest me, I 
know, because I love Thy Son, Jesus Christ, my 
Savior. Trusting in this I do now confidently pray 
Thee to hear me and to grant what I ask — not be- 
cause I am so holy and pious, but because I know 
that Thou, for Christ's sake, wilt readily give and 
grant all things to us. In His name I now come 
before Thee, offer my prayer — no matter who I am 
as to my person — confident that it is "yea" and 
surely heard. Amen. 



13 

7 

Preparatory to the Lord's Supper 

MY DEAR HEAVENLY FATHEK, I am a 
poor unworthy sinner, not fit to raise mine eyes 
and hands to Thee in prayer. But because Thou 
hast commanded us to pray and hast promised to 
hear us, and because Thou hast given us both the 
words- and the manner of prayer through Thy dear 
Son, our Lord Jesus Christ while on earth, I now 
pray thus: 

OTJK FATHER, who art in heaven; hallowed be 
Thy name; Thy kingdom come; Thy will be done 
on earth as it is in heaven; give us this day our 
daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses, as we 
forgive those who trespass against us. And lead 
us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. 
For Thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the 
glory, for ever and ever. Amen. 



m 



14 

1 

Morning Prayer for Sunday 

ETERNAL, ALMIGHTY GOD AND FATHER. 

I return unto Thee inost heartfelt thanks for hav- 
ing, during this past night and all former times, 
graciously kept me by Thy holy angels from all 
harm and danger of body and soul; and I pray 
Thee, from the inmost of my heart, to forgive me 
all my sins wherewith I have ever provoked Thee, 
and to quicken my heart with Thy Holy Spirit, that 
I may daily grow and increase in Thy knowledge. 
Also grant me grace to guard myself on this day 
against sin and shame and to be found in accord 
with Thy divine will, in order so to walk that, 
guarded against all ill, I may always keep Thee in 
my heart and thoughts. And when the hour of my 
death draws nigh, and I am to depart, grant, I be- 
seech Thee, that I may fall asleep unto eternal life, 
in the true knowledge of Thy dear Son, Jesus 
Christ. Amen. 



2 

Before Going to Church 

O GRACIOUS GOD AND FATHER, Thou 
seest I have no desire for Thy word on account of 



15 



my depraved nature. I am enticed from it, or am 
indolent and slow to hear and keep it, because of 
the devil, my flesh and blood, the children of this 
world, and also because of false teachers and 
preachers. Therefore, I pray Thee, eternal God, 
forgive me my natural indolence and slothfulness 
and give me a willing and alert heart to hear and 
ponder Thy word. Awaken in me a heartfelt de- 
sire for the sincere milk of the word, as the new- 
born babes. Grant that my highest pleasure and 
delight may ever center in Thy word. May nothing 
be dearer to me in this world than Thy word; may 
I love it more than gold and much fine gold, ever 
considering it my best treasure. And since, alas! 
I have lived to see th& time foretold by Thine own 
Son, in which false Christs shall rise and "show 
great signs and wonders, insomuch that, if it were 
possible, they shall deceive the very elect," I pray 
Thee, Thou wouldest graciously guard and keep me 
from error and false doctrine. Preserve me in Thy 
truth-^-Thy word is the truth — that I may adhere 
to it and remain steadfast in it to my last hour. 
All this, I pray Thee, grant for the sake of Thy 
glory and Thy most holy and exalted name. Amen. 



» 



16 



Evening Prayer for Sunday 

O LOBD, Almighty God and Heavenly Father, 
I thank Thee from the inmost of my heart for all 
Thy mercy and kindness, which, like as a father, 
Thou hast shown me this day, and hast kept me 
safe from all ills. And I further pray Thee, as 
Thy dear child, graciously to preserve me to my 
last breath in Thy saving word, and to enlighten 
my heart with Thy Holy Spirit, that I may know 
what is good or evil. All sin that I have knowing- 
ly committed this day, also my secret faults, I ask 
Thee in mercy to forget, and to grant me a Chris- 
tian's rest for the night, that I may rise hale and 
hearty to Thy praise. Also help me, dear Father, 
by Thy grace, to begin a new life well-pleasing to 
Thee, to my soul's salvation; through Jesus Christ, 
Thy dear Son, our only helper. Amen. 



4 

A Second Evening Prayer for Sunday 

We praise and bless Thee, Lord God, Father of 
heaven and earth, for having, out of pure mercy 
and kindness, so bountifully provided both our body 






17 



with daily bread and our soul with that heavenly 
food, even Thy holy word. Grant, faithful God, 
that it may remain in our hearts, and work great 
good to Thine honor and our salvation. We also 
pray Thy fatherly grace, Thou wouldest not with- 
draw from us Thy pure word and the service of 
Thy house; nor remember against us our guilt and 
sin with which we have desecrated this day, but 
rather, we pray Thee, blot them out according to 
Thy great mercy, through the bitter suffering and 
death of Thy dear Son, Christ Jesus. And we com- 
mend ourselves to Thy divine protection and fa- 
therly blessing, for this and all our remaining days, 
in this vale of tears. May Thy holy angels keep 
guard over us, that the enemy may have no power 
over us. 

But since the evening of this world is now draw- 
ing nigh and the day is far spent, we would ask 
for the grace of thy Spirit, that we may ever be 
watchful, and in living faith, fervent love, firm 
hope, and holy walk wait for the blessed appear- 
ance of the glory of the great God, our Savior ? 
Christ Jesus, when He shall come to judge the 
quick and the dead, that we may then receive Him 
fittingly and joyfully, enter eternal life with Him, 
and thus attain to the eternal day of joy and rest 
with all elect. Have mercy, O Lord, upon all 
Christendom, and remove all oppression, derision, 



18 



and tyranny from Thy poor persecuted Church, 
comfort all troubled and distressed consciences by 
the true Comforter, the Holy Ghost, and send upon 
all of us Thy peace, through Jesus Christ, our Ad- 
vocate and only Mediator. Amen. 



Morning Prayer for Monday 

O THOU HOLY AND FAITHFUL GOD, Heav- 
enly Father, I laud, honor and magnify Thee from 
the inmost of my heart that Thou didst suffer me 
to rest and sleep in safety this past night, and didst, 
in Thy paternal love, again awaken me refreshed 
and in health. I heartily pray Thee that Thou 
wouldst graciously preserve me together with all 
devout Christians, this day and at all times, from 
every ill and danger of body and soul, that I may 
each day be found to walk in Thy way. I, there- 
fore, commend my body and soul, my heart, mind, 
and thoughts, all my meditation and imagination, 
my sitting and lying down, my going-in and com- 
ing-out, my life and death, in fine, all I am and 
do, to Thy divine protection. Thy holy angel be 
and remain with me, that I meet with no harm in 
body or soul. Grant this, I beseech Thee, for Christ 
Jesus, Thy beloved Son's sake. Amen. 



19 



Evening Prayer for Monday 

MEKCIFUL GOD, Gracious Father, I thank 
Thee most heartily that Thou hast graciously kept 
me this day, to this very hour, from all harm of 
body and soul, and I pray Thee, for Christ Jesus, 
Thy dear Son's sake, graciously to forgive all sin 
I have committed against Thee again this day in 
thoughts, words and deeds, and to remember them 
no more in all eternity. And as I am about to 
retire to rest, I beseech Thee, my Father, Thou 
wouldst guard me from all ills of body and soul, so 
that I may rest and sleep secure from the wiles and 
power of the devil, and from dreams vain and vile, 
thus rising in the morning to Thy glory, refreshed 
and in health. And now I commend myself wholly 
into Thy divine hand; Thou hast redeemed me, 
Thou faithful God. Amen. 



7 

Morning Prayer for Tuesday 

LORD JESUS CHRIST, Thou only Savior of 
the world, to Thee I raise my heart and mind and 
again thank Thee for having, by Thy boundless 



20 



mercy and love, preserved me in safety this past 
night from the wiles and power of the wicked foe. 
Lord Jesus Christ, Thou art my part and my heri- 
tage, my salvation rests with Thee, and I know of 
no helper save Thee in heaven or on earth. There- 
fore, because of Thine unutterable sufferings, and 
Thy death most bitter and ignominious, which 
Thou, out of great love, didst suffer for me, 
a poor sinner, I pray Thee, dearest Lord Jesus, be 
gracious and merciful unto me, bless and sustain 
me this day and the rest of my life, ever guarding 
and keeping me from sin and all ills, until Thou 
wilt graciously summon me to eternal joy and bliss, 
for Thy most holy name's sake. Amen. 



8 

Evening Prayer for Tuesday 

O ETEKNAL, Gracious and bountiful God in 
heaven who hast again, out of boundless grace and 
fatherly care, suffered me to end this day in good 
health and spirits, I thank Thee for this from my 
whole heart. And since, alas, I did not spend this 
day to Thy praise and honor, and to the welfare 
of my neighbor, my perverted nature being in- 
clined to evil rather than to good, grant, I beseech 



21 



Thee, O faithful God, that I, who was conceived in 
sin, may realize my frailty and partake of Thy di- 
vine grace. Also teach me to meditate often on my 
death, that I may prepare for it in true repentance, 
and at its approach may, with confidence and bliss, 
leave this life of misery to be translated into Thy 
heavenly paradise, together with all faithful Chris- 
ians. But while in this mortal frame, I pray Thee, 
to take me into Thine almighty protection, guard- 
ing and preserving me from all harm and danger 
of body and soul; for Christ Jesus, Thy dear Son's 
sake. Amen, 



Morning Prayer for Wednesday 

O ALMIGHTY And merciful God, gracious 
Father in heaven, Thou hast again, by the protec- 
tion of Thy ministering spirits, the holy angels, 
kept me this past night, so that I have lived to see 
this day in good health and spirits. For this I 
earnestly laud, praise and magnify Thee, further- 
more praying Thee, dear heavenly Father, in whose 
will I center all I do or leave undone, all my ends 
and aims, graciously to remember me also in fu- 
ture. Govern, I beseech Thee, with Thy Holy 



22 



Spirit, my heart, mind and thoughts, all my de- 
signs and purposes, my words and works, that I 
may understand what is good or evil, and may in 
this wicked and perverted world so live and walk 
this day as, above all things, to be free from sin 
and to experience a heartfelt desire for that eternal 
home purchased and secured for me by Christ, my 
Savior — not forfeiting it by a life of sin. To this 
end graciously lend me the aid of Thy divine love 
and the power of the Holy Ghost, for Jesus Christ, 
Thy dear Son's sake. Amen. 



10 

Evening Prayer for Wednesday 

O ALMIGHTY GOD And benignant Father, I 
return thanks to Thee for having again this day 
graciously kept me in body and soul from all harm 
and ill. Whatever sin I have committed this day, 
with heart, tongue or otherwise, against Thee and 
Thy holy commandments, forgive, I beseech Thee, 
according to Thy loving-kindness, and forsake me 
not, whom Thou hast bought with a price, even the 
precious blood of Thy dear Son, Jesus Christ. Pro- 
tect me this night, I pray Thee, under the almighty 
wings of Thy grace, against the evil foe, who goeth 



23 



about, as a roaring lion, seeking to devour me, that 
I may rest and sleep securely under the shadow of 
Thy grace and goodness, and the evil foe may not 
draw nigh unto me and harm me. Amen. 



11 



Morning Prayer for Thursday 

O EXALTED TRINITY, God Father, Son and 
Holy Ghost, to Thee do I commit myself body and 
soul now and forever, and render Thee most heart- 
felt thanks that Thou didst not suffer the evil foe 
to harm me this past night, but didst keep me by 
Thine angels in good health and spirits. What 
shall I give Thee in return? How shall I properly 
praise Thee? I will give Thee a broken and con- 
trite heart, full of sin, red as scarlet, but also full 
of sorrow and contrition; graciously accept it, I 
pray Thee, wash it white as snow in the precious 
blood of Thy dear Son, my Redeemer, conceal it in 
His holy, innocent wounds, thus conveying to me 
the forgiveness of all my sins. Help me, further- 
more, that on this and all my days I may be found 
in Christian readiness, as I do not know when Thou 
wilt come, or in what place or manner I may be 



24 



summoned, that I may enter into eternal bliss. 
Grant this gracious God and Father, for the sake 
of Thy dear Son, Jesus Christ. Amen. 



12 

Evening Prayer for Thursday 

O GEACIOTJS And benignant God, eternal Fa- 
ther, how cordial is the love, and how fatherly the 
care Thou hast for me, a poor sinner, having so 
graciously protected me all my days and hours, 
from my tender youth to the present moment^ 
against the manifold wiles of the devil, and the 
dangers and temptations of the wicked world. And 
I humbly pray Thee that, according to Thy father- 
ly love towards me, Thou wouldest nevermore re- 
member against me all that I have transgressed 
against Thee this day, but graciously remit the 
same. Be merciful unto me, because of Thy Son, 
Jesus Christ, who is surety for all my sins. And 
during this night protect me and all mine against 
a sudden evil death, against disaster from fire or 
water, against pestilence and all manner of ills. So 
I now commend myself, my body, soul and all I 
have to Thy fatherly protection ; Thy holy angel be 
with me, that I need fear no ill. Amen. 



25 

13 

Morning Prayer for Friday 

IN THY NAME, Thou crucified Lord Jesus 
Christ, I, a poor sinner have now arisen. On the 
sacred cross, Thou, the real and patient lamb of 
sacrifice, didst endure for me the most painful 
death and didst redeem me with Thy crimson blood 
from all my sins, from death, Satan and hell: gov- 
ern my heart by Thy Holy Spirit, refresh it with 
the heavenly dew of Thy grace, keep me this day 
with Thy divine love, and hide me, body and soul, 
in Thy holy wounds; cleanse me from all my sins, 
preserve me in all good works, and guide me out 
of this vale of tears into Thine eternal joy and 
glory, O most faithful Savior, Jesus Christ, my on- 
ly comfort, hope and life. Amen. 

14 

Evening Prayer for Friday 

O LOED JESUS CHKIST, Thou patient sacri- 
ficial lamb and sacred atonement for all my sins, 
and not only for mine but for the sins of the whole 
world, to Thee I again render thanks from the in- 
most of my heart, for having, like a father, kept 



26 



me, as to body and soul, in Thy protection this day, 
and I pray Thee graciously to pardon and forgive 
me all my sins, which this day I have committed 
because of the weakness of my perverted nature 
and the instigation of the evil spirit, and which 
weigh heavily upon my heart and conscience. And 
since I am now about to retire to rest and to sleep, 
I pray, Thou wouldest spread the wings of Thy 
grace over me, that I may sleep, beneath them in 
peace and quietness as to the body, but with the 
soul watch alway, looking for Thee and Thy glori- 
ous coming to judgment, and sighing for the time 
when I shall be called hence to be with Thee in 
bliss. 

Grant this, I beseech Thee, O faithful God, to- 
gether with Thy dear Son and the Holy Spirit, 
most blessed for ever. Amen. 



15 

Morning Prayer for Saturday 

O THOU FAITHFUL FATHEK In heaven, 
would that I could render unto Thee adequate 
thanks and praise for all the blessings Thou hast 
bestowed upon me during all the days of my life 
up to this hour, but this is not within my power 



27 



and ability. For I am flesh and blood, which can- 
not but do wrong. Thou, however, dost daily grant 
me blessings without measure; in particular, if 
Thou this night hadst not been my shield and sup- 
port, Satan would have used his power to harm me 
in many ways, so that I could not have arisen safe 
and sound. But owing to Thy gracious protection, 
I have been kept unharmed. I now fervently pray 
Thee, let me this day experience Thy grace, and 
keep me, who am Thine own through Christ's 
blood, in Thy grace unto life everlasting. Amen. 
Lord Jesus, receive my soul into Thine hands, and 
let it be committed unto Thee. Amen. 



16 

Evening Prayer for Saturday 

MEKCIFUL And gracious God and Father, I 
again render Thee heartfelt thanks and praise, for 
having, during all the days of my life, taken so pa- 
ternal a care of me, and having during the day, 
yea, during the week up to this very hour, gra- 
ciously guarded me against all harm of body and 
soul. I pray Thee furthermore, by that grace that 
all penitent sinners have before Thee, Thou wouldst 
cover and nevermore remember the sins that to- 



28 



day and all week I have committed against Thee 
and my neighbor, knowingly and unknowingly. And 
grant in grace, I pray Thee, that in leaving the 
old week I may enter a new Christian life, pleas- 
ing to Thee and to all the elect in heaven. For the 
coming night I commit myself to Thy gracious pro- 
tection, that I may rest and sleep in safety, and 
rise to Thy further honor refreshed and in health. 
And if the hour of my death be at hand, take me 
unto Thyself, Lord Jesus, for I am Thine and Thou 
art mine; my soul yearneth to be with Thee. 
Amen. 



17 

Daily Renewal of the Baptismal Covenant 

HEKEBT, God Father, Son and Holy Ghost, I 
renew the covenant of my Holy Baptism, this day 
and for all times renouncing the devil, all his works 
and all his pomp, also the ways of the wicked world 
and of my sinful flesh. I anew consecrate to Thee, 
Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, my body and soul, and 
commit to Thee the temporal, spiritual and eternal 
welfare of myself and my kin. O God, my Father, 
I entrust myself fully to Thy care, grace, love and 
truth. O Jesus, my Redeemer, I clothe myself 



29 



with Thy merits, with Thy blood, wounds and 
blessed communion. O Holy Spirit, my Comforter, 
I consign myself wholly to Thy guidance, power, 
light and comfort. Triune God, Thou art mine, 
X am Thine ; Thou art my Father, I am Thy child ; 
Thou art my shepherd, I am Thy sheep; Thou art 
my Lord, I am Thine own. O my God, how can 
I sufficiently thank Thee that Thou hast deigned 
to raise me, a wretched sinner, to the blessed rela- 
tion of a Christian by means of Holy Baptism, that 
gracious washing of regeneration! Oh, keep and 
preserve me in this state of grace even unto death. 
Grant, O Lord, that this consciousness of being 
Thy child may ever be my comfort against Satan, 
sin and death, and may I value it more highly than 
all worldly honor or temporal dignity; may I con- 
form my life thereto and finally die a Christian 
death. Grant this, O Lord God, by the power of 
the Holy Ghost, and for the sake of Thy dear Son 
Jesus Christ. Honor, glory and thanks be to the 
Triune God forever and ever. Amen. 



m 



30 

18 



Prayer on a Birthday 

My Lord and my God, in Thee I live, move and 
have my being in life or death. "I will praise Thee, 
for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; marvel- 
lous are Thy works; and that my soul knoweth 
right well." Thou wast my stay when I was in my 
mother's womb; my substance was not hid from 
Thee, when I was made in secret, and curiously 
wrought in the lowest parts of the earth. "Thine 
eyes did see my substance, being yet imperfect; 
and in Thy book all my members were written 
which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet 
there was none of them." 

To-day I recall the day of my birth, which is the 
beginning not only of temporal, but also of spirit- 
ual life, inasmuch as I was soon brought to Holy 
Baptism, where I was reconciled to God, cleansed 
of my sin by the washing of regeneration, and re- 
ceived the Holy Ghost. For this I earnestly thank 
and praise Thee. This day reminds me, to Thy 
praise, God, my Creator, that I was not only born 
into this world, but that Thou hast brought me to 
a place where Thy name is truly known and Thy 
holy word taught in all purity, by means of which 
I was through Thee brought to true faith. I also 



31 



thank Thee, Lord Jesus Christ, for all the bene- 
fits Thou hast showered upon me as to body and 
soul, from the day of my birth up to this present 
hour. Thou hast nourished and kept me; Thou 
hast protected my life in manifold ways by Thy 
holy angels, who always see the face of the Father 
in heaven, and hast daily provided me in rich meas- 
ure with food and clothing. Moreover, through Thy 
word Thou hast conveyed to me spiritual and im- 
perishable gifts; in Holy Baptism, the washing of 
regeneration, Thou hast given me the assurance 
that I am a new creature and a first-fruit of Jesus 
Christ, granting me forgiveness of sin, the Holy 
Spirit and eternal life for an inheritance. And 
though ofttimes, from weakness of the flesh or per- 
versity of mind, I have forsaken my God, ignored 
His commandments, and have, by many gross sins 
transgressed more than seventy times seven against 
God in heaven and my neighbor on earth, Thou 
didst not enter into judgment with me, nor visit 
me with sudden, well-deserved punishment. O God, 
Holy Spirit, how shamefully I have spent my life, 
how seriously I faltered, yea committed grievous 
sins many a time. But Thou, O God, Holy Ghost, 
hast sought me, the lost sheep, so often, and led me 
back into the right path; Thou hast sanctified, 
comforted, governed, and kept me in my calling: 
Thou hast stayed the devil and warded off innum- 



32 



erable dangers of body and soul — dangers that long 
ago would have caused my ruin, if Thou hadst not 
stood by me. O Holy Trinity, I pray Thee to grant 
a happy birth, forgiveness of sins and eternal life 
to all that are to see the light of day. Let not this 
anniversary of my birth, I pray Thee, or any of my 
future days, be marred by mortal sin, I ever being 
of my sinful extraction and depravity. Preserve 
me in health and life, until I reach the appointed 
goal. Grant patience in sufferings and trials. Com- 
fort me in every misfortune and distress. Daily 
grant, I beseech Thee, forgiveness of my sins, as 
well as steadfastness unto my soul's salvation, that 
I may serve Thee unto the end in true, saving faith 
and a good conscience. Amen. 



19 

A Prayer for Children 

ALMIGHTY GOD, Heavenly Father, in the 
Fourth Commandment Thou hast so earnestly en- 
joined upon me to honor my father and my mother, 
also promised graciously to reward such service 
with long life and well-being: I now pray Thee 
from the inmost of my heart, give unto me an 
obedient heart/ that with due reverence obeys in 



33 



all things my dear parents and all those placed over 
me in their stead, giving them honor in word and 
deed with patience. May I never hurt their feel- 
ings, or despise and mock them as long as I live, 
that Thy blessing may come upon me. Grant, O 
Lord God, that I may carefully keep their words, 
commands and directions, storing them in my 
heart and binding them about my neck, also ac- 
cepting their corrections and not forgetting their 
instructions, so that I may live the longer upon 
the earth. Rule me, I pray Thee, by Thy good 
Spirit, that I may yield to the corrections of my 
father and not abandon the directions of my 
mother, that I may be their joy and comfort. In 
all I do or leave undone, grant that I may ever 
keep before me the example of my Lord and Sav- 
ior, who, as a model for all pious children, was sub- 
ject to his dear mother, the virgin Mary, and to 
his foster-parent Joseph. Bestow upon me a heart 
thankful and modest, that I may requite my par- 
ents by serving them in return, particularly by 
ministering unto them in their old age, bearing 
with them if they grow childish and peevish, never 
forgetting that they gave me life. And forgive me, 
in grace, my acts of childish weakness and way- 
wardness against them. Do Thou preserve me 
from bad company and people of loose habits, so 
that when the wicked entice I do not consent nor 



34 

follow in their ways, but guard my foot from their 
paths, so that shame and vice may not be my por- 
tion. O Lord, Thou hast hitherto reared me as a 
father does his son, grant that I incline mine ears 
and listen to the words of the wise, storing up wis* 
dom in the days of my youth for the purpose of 
becoming prudent and cautious. Grant Thine aid 
that I may increase in wisdom, stature, and grace 
with Thee and my fellowmen, for Christ Jesus' 
sake. Amen. 



20 

A Prayer for Young People 

O FATHEK Of all grace and mercy, Thou art 
a holy God and wilt have also us lead a life holy 
and free from the lusts and desires of our sinful 
flesh. I deplore my weakness and the shortcomings 
of my sinful nature. To will is indeed present with 
me, but how to perform that which is good, I find 
not. Three mighty enemies I find assailing me : the 
lust of the flesh, the lust of the eye, and the pride 
of life ; these endeavor to draw me from Thy grace. 
Therefore, I pray Thee, O my Father, to create and 
to preserve in me a clean heart. Grant that I care- 
fully shun all places which lend occasion for un- 



35 



cleanness, and that, restrained by Thy fear, I may 
not make members of fornication out of the mem- 
bers of my body, they at the same time being mem- 
bers of Christ Jesus, my Savior. But rather let me 
ever, in ardent devotion and a fervent longing for 
heaven, be most intent upon so living that my body 
may be a temple of God the Holy Ghost, never 
ceasing to love Jesus, who was crucified and given 
into death for me. Let me love that heavenly wis- 
dom, in order that I may never find myself on the 
slippery paths of sin. O God, just and holy, who 
triest both heart and reins, grant that I may so 
adhere to Thee in this world that in the world to 
some I may not be separated from Thee. Amen. 



21 

A Prayer for Servants 

O MERCIFUL GOD, Thou hast by the precious 
suffering and death of Thy dear Son, Jesus Christ, 
delivered and freed me from eternal bondage, from 
the power of sin, from the realm of darkness, and 
from the cruel tyranny of the devil, and hast made 
me lord over death and hell : I now pray Thee gra- 
ciously to grant that I take no dislike to my posi- 
tion of dependence wherein Thou hast according to 



36 

Thy will and pleasure, placed me in this world. 
May I never in impatience murmur against this 
Thy order, nor envy other people their superior 
station; but may I ever gladly and with my whole 
heart* conform to this Thy will and walk as serv- 
ing Thee, my God in heaven and not man on earth. 
Do Thou grant, therefore, O Lord God, that I may 
serve Thee, the highest Lord in heaven and on 
earth, in true knowledge and fear unfeigned, love 
Thee above all things, place all the hope of my sal- 
vation in Thee, and walk in Thy commandments 
without blame. Grant, furthermore, that I may, 
in due patience, be obedient to my master and mis- 
tress, not only if they be kind and lenient, but also 
if froward and whimsical, serving them in all 
things that are not against Thy commandments, 
with all fear, in simpleness of heart, as serving 
Christ, my Lord, — not to favor man, but from sin- 
cerity of heart and in line with Thy will and com- 
mand. Bestow Thy grace that I may be found 
faithful in all things entrusted to me, not neglect- 
ing or wasting aught, or causing any damage by 
negligence of mine. And may I never covet what 
is not mine, or be dishonest in administering what 
has been placed in my charge. Preserve my health, 
strengthen my body, endow me with wisdom and 
understanding, that I may properly perform the 
work assigned me by master or mistress; increase 



37 



their substance by Thy divine aid, and may they 
be blessed and grow apace through my indus- 
try. Finally may all I do and perform tend to Thy 
divine honor and to a blessed exercise of my faith, 
for Christ Jesus, Thy dear Son's sake, who liveth 
and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost to all 
eternity. Amen. 



22 

Prayer of a Husband 

ALMIGHTY, Beneficent God, Thou hast Thy- 
self instituted holy wedlock, and hast, by means of 
the first miracle of Thy dear Son Jesus Christ, 
honored and distinguished it as a state pleasing to 
Thee, in which also many sainted fathers and pro- 
phets lived a godly life, well-pleasing to Thee. And 
since by Thy guidance I have entered holy mat- 
rimony, and Thou hast ordained me to be the head 
of a household and dost take especial delight in the 
following of three things : that brethren dwell to- 
gether in unity, that neighbors love one another, 
and that husband and wife serve each other in love, 
I now pray Thee, from the inmost of my heart 
grant that I, in Christian love, harmony, and con- 
sideration live with my wife as the weaker vessel, 



38 



that I accord to her the honor due her as co-heir to 
the grace of life eternal, that I incline her, to- 
gether with our children and domestics to a knowl- 
edge of Thee and Thine honor, doing all this in 
chastity and propriety. To this end do Thou be- 
stow grace, that the members of my household fol- 
low my guidance when I direct them to what is 
good and godly. Prevent the evil one from intro- 
ducing discord and contention, and if, through 
weakness of the flesh, the spirit of discord get the 
upper hand, grant that harmony be speedily re- 
stored. Graciously grant that I may never covet a 
strange spouse or woman, nor look upon her to lust 
after her. If it is Thy divine will, keep sickness 
from me and my family. And grant to me, Thine 
humble servant, that I be diligent in my calling, 
eat my bread in the sweat of my brow, and do not 
grow disheartened over stress of work, for Thou 
hast so ordained it. Also bestow Thy blessing up- 
on my substance, that it may increase without dam- 
age or loss to others. Favor me with pious ser- 
vants and faithful laborers. Preserve from harm 
my house and my home and all Thou hast given me. 
Also help me patiently to bear my cross, and after 
this life gather us and all Christians in Thy king- 
dom above. Amen. 



39 
23 



Prayer of a Wife 

O BENIGNANT GOD And faithful Father, 
since Thou in grace hast called me to domestic 
duties in holy wedlock, a state in which I can also 
serve and please Thee, O my God — give grace unto 
me, Thy servant, that I may constantly keep Thy 
fear before mine eyes, also love and trust in Thee, 
my Creator and Redeemer, above all things ; but 
in second place fear, honor, and love my husband, 
not coveting any other. Do Thou grant that ac- 
cording to Thy decree my will be subject to that 
of my husband, yielding to him with all readiness, 
and that my heart be ever graced with that mild, 
X^eaceful spirit and those manifold virtues shown 
by the holy women of ancient days, who placed 
their hope in God and were subject to their hus- 
bands. Grant to me, Thine handmaid, a chaste 
and proper walk in fear and humility, so that I 
may, with kind and modest words and in a spirit 
of piety, prevent or allay any wrath or ill humor 
of my husband, ever treating him with gentleness 
and forbearance. May I rear my children and do- 
mestics in a mild spirit to the praise and glory 
of Thy holy name, and may they readily follow my 
guidance to what is noble and good. Grant, fur- 



40 



thermore, that I may be a true helpmeet to my hus- 
band, being careful and not wasteful with the sub- 
stance thou hast graciously given us. Also grant 
that I work and exert myself, that I "have to give 
to him that needeth," and may extend my hand 
in charity to the poor. Preserve us from dishonest 
laborers and evil-minded domestics, who would di- 
minish or waste our property. Also bestow grace, I 
pray Thee, for a patient bearing of my cross, so 
that I do not grow timid and dismayed at pros- 
pects of a trial, inasmuch as by trials and adversi- 
ties our faith is proved. O Lord God, into Thine 
almighty hand I commit myself, my dear husband, 
all my children and domestics; preserve us, I pray 
Thee, from sin, shame, and all ills, through Christ 
Jesus, our Lord. Amen. 



24 

Prayer for the Aged 

O LOKD GOD, Thou our dwelling place in all 
generations; our life and our increase of years, 
in whose hands is our time, the years have drawn 
nigh, of which I say, "I have no pleasure in them," 
for my strength is fast declining in my advanced 
age, while manifold ailings and frailties are in- 



41 



creasing. I humbly pray Thee, who hast so gracious- 
ly led me from my earliest infancy and hast been 
my constant hope from the days of my youth, do 
not forsake me now in old age, when I am weak 
and my hair has turned grey, but bear me up and 
sustain me to the day of my happy death. But 
above all I would pray Thee, O Father of grace, to 
rule and guide me with Thy holy and good Spirit, 
that I may wholly consecrate myself to Thee for 
the remaining days of my life, by a Christian walk. 
by prayer and supplication. And grant to me, the 
longer the more, a state of Christian readiness, 
that, whether the time of my departure be to-day 
or tomorrow, it be peaceful as Simeon's of old, and 
that, on departing this life, I may enter life eter- 
nal. Amen. 



25 

A Prayer for the Proper Performance of One's 
Duties 

O MEKCIFUL And faithful God, Thou hast or- 
dained that each person should have a certain call- 
ing and faithfully attend to it. Now Thou seest 
and knowest my responsibilities, O Lord, and that 
without Thy grace, strength and blessing I am not 



42 



able to do anything whatever; thou also knowest 
my manifold shortcomings. And, therefore, I earn- 
estly pray Thee, do Thou bestow upon me wisdom 
and strength, together with a courageous and fear- 
less spirit, so that I may act prudently, overcome 
all obstacles that arise and attain to a blessed and 
desired end by Thy fatherly guidance. My hope 
rests in Thee, O my God, let me not be confounded, 
nor let mine enemies rejoice over me; but no one 
will be forsaken that waiteth on the Lord. O show 
me Thy ways, and teach me Thy paths, for Thou 
art the God of my help, daily do I wait on Thee. 
Preserve my soul, save me and lend Thine aid to 
all that concerns my welfare. Let me not be con- 
founded, for I trust in Thee. O Lord, my God and 
my deliverer, be not far from me; hasten, O Lord, 
to succor me! Amen. 



26 

A Prayer Before Work 

ETEKNAL And merciful God, I am about to re- 
sume my work and the duties of the calling into 
which Thou hast placed me, Thy servant. May I 
apply myself according to the ability Thou dost 
^rant, so that I may serve my neighbor and make 



43 



an honest living. Relying on Thy gracious prom- 
ise, I, therefore, heartily pray Thee, to bestow upon 
me, for the duties about to be resumed, prudence, 
wisdom, understanding, success, and blessing, to- 
gether with health, so that I not only make a good 
beginning but in Thy name and by Thine aid 
arrive at a profitable close, thus at all times faith- 
fully attending to my duties with a clear conscience 
and in Thy fear. To Thee I commend my work; 
give success to my projects, and let me accomplish 
what I undertake in Thy name, so Thy light may 
cast a bright beam on my path, to Thy praise and 
glory and to the welfare of my neighbor, through 
Thy dear Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen. O 
Lord Jesus, in Thy name and upon Thy word I will 
cast out my net. O Lord, help, O Lord, grant suc- 
cess ! Amen. 



27 

A Prayer for Blessing in One's Calling 

O LORD, Thou dost assign to each man his duties 
according to his ability, and dost want us to eat our 
bread in the sweat of our brow, until we return 
again unto dust. Behold on Thy word I have cast 
out the net of my calling, as we are to live of hon- 



44 



est labor and experience Thy blessing. May my toil 
and labor not be lost, but grant that, "working with 
my hands the thing which is good, I may have to 
give to him that needeth." May Thy blessing — on 
which all depends — ever attend my efforts, I bring- 
ing them to a successful issue without impairing 
the interests of others, in order that my substance 
be devoted to the honor of God, and the members 
of my family be provided for. Cause Thy blessing, 
I pray Thee, to increase as time goes on; bless our 
"basket and our store/' for Thy blessing enriches, 
though the busy hand work and worry not. O Lord, 
make my heart glad and my face joyful; give me 
health, life and success. I ask all this subject to 
Thy will; Lord hear my prayer. To Thee I com- 
mit my way, I trust also in Thee, Thou wilt bring 
it to pass. Blessed be the Lord daily. Amen. 



28 

A Prayer of Luther on the Passage: " Casting 

all your Care Upon Him, for He Careth 

for You" 

O HEAVENLY FATHEE, Thou art truly my 
Lord and my God, who hast created me, bringing 
me forth out of nothing, and Thou hast also re- 



45 



deemed me through Thy Son. Now, Thou hast ap- 
pointed and assigned to me this office and these my 
duties, but matters do not always take the turn 
I would like, and there are so many things troub- 
ling and distressing me that I find in myself 
neither help nor consolation. For this very reason 
I commit everything to Thee, looking to Thee for 
counsel and aid. In all these questions be Thou 
the beginning and the end. Amen. 



29 

Prayer in View of an Undertaking of Moment 

O LORD, Thou doest great deeds that cannot be 
fathomed,* and miracles that cannot be counted; 
Thy strength is made perfect in weakness. I call 
upon Thee, O most High, to give success to my 
efforts and graciously to aid me in completing this 
undertaking that I have begun in full reliance on 
Thee. Lord God, strengthen me in this hour and 
forsake not Thy servant, who places all his hope in 
Thee, and without Thee can do nothing. Provide 
me with strength from on high, and give me of the 
wisdom that is perpetually about Thy throne, that 
it may be with me and assist me in my work. And 
since all depends on Thy divine blessing, I now 



46 



pray Thee, O my God, remember me in Thy rich 
mercy and bless all I do or leave undone, that I maj 
begin all my undertakings prudently and bring 
them to a happy issue. 

In every enterprise 
Lord, counsel me, advise; 
Speed all my work; in favor 
And blessing crown my labor. 
TO THEE I commit my going-out and my com- 
ing in; to Thee I will thankfully ascribe all praise 
for the success of my undertaking. Amen. In Je- 
sus' name. Amen. 



30 

Thanksgiving upon Completion of Work 

ALMIGHTY, Eternal and beneficent God, I give 
unto Thee hearty thanks and praise for Thy most 
holy aid and assistance shown me this day, for 
without Thee I surely could have done nothing, so 
all praise properly belong to Thee. And I pray Thee, 
deign to be pleased with my work, and have it tend 
to the welfare, in body and soul, of myself and 
neighbors; through Jesus Christ, our Lord, true 
God, who liveth and reigneth to all eternity, with 
Thee and the Holy Ghost. Amen. 



47 
31 

Prayer While on a Journey 

O LOKD JESUS CHEIST, Thou all-gracious 
Lord and Savior, who for our sakes didst become 
a guest and pilgrim upon earth, I come unto Thee 
in humbleness of heart and pray Thee to take into 
Thy fostering care my whole life and walk in this 
world. Graciously preserve me, through the minis- 
tering care of Thy holy angels, on this journey and 
on all my ways from all ills and misfortunes, from 
accidents and dangers of soul or body, in order that 
I may bring my undertaking to a successful end, 
and return to my beloved ones in good health and 
spirits. To Thee alone, O Lord, I entrust for the 
whole journey my body and soul and all I own. Do 
Thou guide my walk and my way to my temporal 
and eternal welfare. In the meantime, take into 
Thy faithful providence those dear to me at home, 
that we may meet again in happiness and health. 
And when at last I shall have ended the pilgrimage 
of my life here upon earth, then take me, by a 
peaceful and happy death, into Thy glory, my heav- 
enly home. • Amen. 



48 
32 

Prayer when Putting Out to Sea 

BEHOLD, Eternal God, I now launch out upon 
the deep, and commit myself to the wild, rough 
sea. Here I am floating on the water, as it were 
between heaven and earth, and on so small and 
fragile a structure as cannot protect itself, much 
less me. Upon whom then am I, a poor human be- 
ing, to rely? Ah, upon Thee alone and Thy father- 
ly protection and care, my God and Lord, for 
neither man nor any other of Thy creatures, can 
save me. The wind bloweth whither it listeth; the 
sea raiseth its billows; beneath me I see no foot- 
ing, and above me only the bare heavens. My fel- 
low-beings at my side are in like danger and anx- 
iety ; therefore, O God, I lift mine eyes up to Thee, 
from whom alone my help cometh; my help com- 
eth from the Lord that hath made heaven and 
earth. To Thee I entrust myself, body and soul. 
to be Thine own with all I have and possess. To 
Thee alone I look, in Thee I trust, my hope rests 
with Thee; there is no help with man. Bear up 
this ship in Thine hands, guard and keep me in it, 
yea, be Thou with me in the vessel, for otherwise., 
O Lord, we perish. "Whom have I in heaven but 
Thee? and there is none upon earth that I desire 



49 



besides Thee." When now leaving the land behind 
me, grant that I may also leave behind me all trust 
in human or earthly aid, and rely entirely upon 
Thee. Behold, O Lord, I surrender entirely to Thy 
pleasure; shape my destiny as accords with Thy 
will and best advances my soul's salvation. Into 
Thy hands do I commit myself; behold, Thou hast 
graven me upon the palms of Thy hands; no one 
shall pluck me out of Thy hand, for "I am of the 
people of Thy pasture and the sheep of Thy hand." 
On these truths I will gladly live and die by the 
help of the Holy Ghost. Amen. 



33 

Prayer of a Voyager in a Storm 

O GOD ALMIGHTY, Thou God of the right- 
eous, who hast made the sea and the dry land and 
hast all things in Thy hand, Thou didst give rise 
to the storm which raises such billows that our ves- 
sel is now borne aloft towards the heavens, now 
down again into the depths, and one reels to and 
fro like a drunken man and is at his wit's end, — 
to use the words of inspiration — in such danger and 
distress we now are on this voyage. But since Thou 
hast said, "Call upon me in the day of trouble and 
I will deliver Thee," we in this great need, from 



50 

which no creature can deliver us, but Thou alone, 
hold out to Thee Thy word with believing hearts, 
and pray Thee, according to Thy mercy, to show 
forth Thine almighty power, rebuke the wind and 
the sea, and let there be a great calm. Gracious- 
ly preserve us, we beseech Thee, from harm and 
shipwreck, hold Thy gracious hand over us and 
mercifully deliver us from this danger. We shall 
then bless Thy name all the days of our lives, ever 
be mindful of this Thy signal help and amend our 
lives to accord with Thy holy word. O Lord God, 
be merciful unto us and forgive our sins for Christ 
Jesus' sake. O help us or we perish! O Lord, de- 
liver us for Thy mercy's sake ! But if Thou hast 
decreed that our life is to end here, then grant us 
Christian patience, keep us in true faith, and give 
us the end of our faith, even the salvation of our 
souls. Lord, be Thou with us, forsake us not. Thou 
canst deliver from death; Thou canst also deliver 
us from this danger. O hear us, hear us, hear us, 
Lord God Father, for Jesus Christ's sake! Hear 
us, O Lord Jesus for the sake of Thy holy five 
wounds! Hear us Lord God, Holy Ghost, for the 
sake of Thy mercy and grace ! Help us, Lord God, 
Father; help us, Lord God, Son; help us Lord God, 
Holy Ghost, for Thine own self's sake, for the hon- 
or of Thy name's sake, and for Thine infinite mer- 
cy's sake. Amen. 



51 

Brief Instruction on Confession and Absolution 

WHEN, My dear Christian, you go to confession, 
you must not content yourself with repeating, by 
rote, a memorized confessional prayer, or with hav- 
ing your pastor repeat it to you, but you must 
bring along a penitent heart, from which your con- 
fession will flow of itself. To offer confession 
when the heart is impenitent is simply mocking 
God, and without a penitent heart there is no for- 
giveness of sin. 

The first requisite for a penitent heart is that you 
recognize your sins and feel sorry and repentant 
over them. By nature no man knows his sins, nor 
can he, of himself, cause repentance to spring from 
his heart; this, on the contrary, must be obtained 
from God by prayer. By nature we are by far too 
blind, too indifferent, too careless, too self-right- 
eous, too much absorbed in self-love and self-con- 
ceit, honestly and penitently to plead guilty in the 
sight of God, of all sins. 

Therefore, above all things bow your knees be- 
fore God and call upon him to open your eyes, that 
you may thoroughly recognize the multitude and 
magnitude of your sins. Pray in the words of the 
sainted David, "Search me, O God, and know my 
heart, try me, and know my thoughts: and see, if 
there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the 



52 

way everlasting." Hereupon take the Holy Ten 
Commandments, and according to them institute a 
careful examinaion of your whole life. You will 
soon find that you are a sinner. For even as a man 
does not see a spot on his face without a mirror, 
so he does not recognize his sins, unless he sees 
himself in the mirror of the Holy Ten Command- 
ments. For every deed, every word, yea, every 
thought against God's commandments, is a sin, 
whether it consist in doing what God has forbid- 
den, or in not doing what He has commanded. But 
you must not only look at the gross, external sins, 
but also at those internal, secret digressions from 
God's commandments — the evil thoughts and desires 
of your heart. When thus examining yourself, be- 
ing instant in prayer, you will discover that you 
did not fear, love, and trust in God as He demands ; 
that you have not called upon God in prayer, praise, 
and thanksgiving so heartily and confidently, as you 
should have done; nor properly heard and learned 
His word, or kept it sacred. You will find that you 
have not duly honored and loved your parents and 
superiors, but that you have been disobedient and 
surly towards them; that you have sinned against 
your neighbor by being angry, revengeful, and un- 
forgiving; by entertaining unchaste thoughts and 
desires; by showing envy, covetousness, and a car- 
nal mind, or by slanderous words. To sum up, you 



53 

will come to know that you did not love your neigh- 
bor so uprightly and heartily as yourself; rather 
that self-love, the quest for personal gain and hon- 
or, was the motive power of all your actions. Be- 
cause of these and other sins you indeed have de- 
served God's wrath, temporal and eternal punish- 
ment, if God would deal with you strictly accord- 
ing to justice. From these sins that you notice in 
yourself you can infer how unclean and polluted 
your heart must be, from which these sins flow ; for 
the stream is no purer than its fountain, and by 
its fruits the tree is known. In this way you will 
come to a true conception of original sin. 

Xow when you notice these and other sins in 
yourself, yea, if you consider that the sins you do 
not know, but still have committed, are far more 
numerous, than those you do know, all of which the 
omniscient God places in the light of his counte- 
nance, you certainly will be terrified in your con- 
science, and experience sorrow and contrition for 
having offended your loving God, so grievously, and 
repaid his mercies with such base ingratitude. 

The second part of repentance is faith, and it 
is the faith in Jesus Christ, who has rendered full 
satisfaction for all your sins, procuring forgiveness 
of them all, also for you. Faith is, so to speak, the 
hand that appropriates forgiveness of sin, and ac- 
cepts it as an unmerited gift of divine grace. With- 



54 

out this faith all knowledge of sin and penitence 
over it, is nothing but the repentance of a Cain and 
a Judas, and must end in despair. But by faith in 
Jesus Christ, the Savior of all sinners, the heart 
is comforted and satisfied. This faith, however, 
you cannot bring forth of your own accord; it is 
the work and gift of God the Holy Ghost. But if 
you feel that you are wanting in this faith, desir- 
ing to believe, but yet not able, then pray God for 
this faith; He is willing to give, and will give it 
to you. 

Thereupon the fruits of repentance are to fol- 
low. These consist in no longer knowingly and in- 
tentionally committing such sins as were forgiven 
you, but rather hating them, abstaining from them, 
and battling against them with the assistance of 
the Holy Ghost. 

Now if you come with such a penitent heart to 
confession, you will be in a condition to receive 
absolution from your pastor, by virtue of which 
your sins are really and truly forgiven by God in 
heaven. Forgiveness of sin Christ has procured 
for all sinners, by the shedding of His blood and 
by His death sealing it by His resurrection. This 
He commanded to preach and administer through- 
out the world by means of the gospel. Now, when 
your pastor absolves you he does nothing else than 
proclaim to you the gospel of the forgiveness of 



55 

sins; this, however, is not an empty announcement, 
but one actually offering and conveying the for- 
giveness of sins to the penitent sinner. Whenever, 
therefore, you hear your pastor pronounce Absolu- 
tion, do not doubt, but firmly believe that your 
sins are forgiven before God in heaven — believe it 
as firmly as though Christ spoke directly from 
heaven: "My son, (my daughter), be of good cheer, 
thy sins be forgiven thee." For He says: "Who- 
soever heareth you, heareth me"; and, "Whoseso- 
ever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them." 



34 



A Poor Sinner Laments the Impenitence of his 
Heart 

O HEAVENLY FATHER, I, a miserable and 
wretched sinner, come before Thee with nothing 
but my sins, and so I dare not even lift up mine 
eyes to Thy most holy majesty on high, but I feel 
abased for having so often offended Thee and dis- 
obeyed Thy voice. Alas, there is in me no good 
thing, I having been conceived and borne in sin; 
and by nature I am perverted and corrupted to the 
degree that I neither feel nor experience any love 



56 



or desire for virtue and heavenly treasures, but 
only for temporal honor and pleasures and all man- 
ner of baseness. From my youth I have lived in sin, 
and do so to this day, having within me my sinful 
flesh, the old Adam. But I take comfort, dear Lord, 
in Thy boundless, unsearchable, infinite, and un- 
speakable grace and mercy, which Thou hast prom- 
ised in Thy word to all penitent sinners and con- 
firmed by a sacred oath. I take comfort in the 
precious merits of Thine only begotten Son, who 
was given into death for my sin also, and was 
raised for my justification. 

Hide Thy face, O my heavenly Father from my 
sins and behold the face of Thy Son, who never 
Himself committed a sin, yea, who knew no sin, but 
by His most holy obedience, blood, and death hath 
fully atoned for all my sins and those of the 
whole world. For the sake of this Savior receive 
me again into grace, O my Father, and do not let 
His bitter sufferings and death and His perfect, 
precious ransom, which He has paid Thee for my 
sins, be lost upon me, poor sinner, but be effectual 
in me. I will then laud and praise Thee, here in 
time and there in eternity. Amen. 



57 

35 

Prayer for True Conversion 

O ALMIGHTY GOD, Merciful Father, Thou 
dost call me and all sinners to repentance in the 
words : "Return Thou backsliding Israel, and I will 
not cause mine anger to fall upon you; for I am 
merciful, and I will not keep anger for ever. Only 
acknowledge thine iniquity, that thou hast trans- 
gressed against the Lord, thy God." This voice of 
repentance and grace daily reaches my ear and my 
heart, but, alas, I am not able, of myself, to bring 
about my conversion. No more than the Ethiopian 
can change his skin, or the leopard his spots, can 
I of my own natural power, abstain from sin and 
turn to good deeds, inasmuch as the imagination 
of my heart is evil from my youth up continually. 
Even when by grace I resolved to arise to seek rec- 
onciliation with Thee, and to offer the sacrifices of 
a broken spirit, a broken and contrite heart, even 
then Satan, the accursed, places a thousand ob- 
stacles in my flesh and blood; endeavors to prevent 
me from doing "the good that I would," but would 
have me continue in sin and perish therein. For 
this reason I bow my knees to Thee, Abba, dear 
Father, praying for the sake of thine infinite mer- 
cy: "Turn Thou me, and I shall be holpen." Let 



58 

Thy grace, O my God, not be lost on me, but as 
Thou didst work in me to will, work also in me 
to do of Thy good pleasure. Counteract, I pray 
Thee, the evil designs of the infernal fiend, arrest 
the promptings of my perverted heart, so that the 
holy resolution I have may not be hindered or come 
to naught. Open mine eyes, that I may clearly 
see and bitterly lament my sins. Give unto me 
that godly sorrow that worketh repentance unto 
salvation not to be repented of. But, do not let 
me perish under the load of my sin, nor despair 
as did Cain and Judas, but do Thou turn to me 
and be gracious unto me, look upon my misery and 
distress, and forgive all my sins. Show unto me, 
I pray Thee, Thy Fatherly heart of love and mercy, 
which hath no pleasure in the death of the wicked; 
but that the wicked turn from his way and live. 
Speak kindly to my soul, saying Thou wilt show 
mercy in place of justice and nevermore remember 
my transgressions. Have me look upon Jesus the 
crucified, who was delivered for our offences, and 
was raised again for our justification. Open to me, 
for a safe refuge, His bleeding wounds, in which 
so many a poor sinner has found comfort and sal- 
vation. Create also in me a clean heart, O God; 
and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not 
away from Thy presence; and take not Thy Holy 
Spirit from me. Restore unto me the joy of Thy 



59 



salvation; and uphold me with Thy free Spirit in 
the fixed purpose to amend my sinful life, and to 
serve Thee, all the days of my life, in holiness and 
righteousness, pleasing to Thee. O Lord, hear me ! 
Lord, have mercy on me! Lord, bring it to 
pass, for Jesus Christ's sake. Amen. 



36 

Prayer for Forgiveness of Sin 

ETEKNAL And merciful God, I, a poor, miser- 
able and distressed sinner, enter the presence of Thy 
divine majesty with nothing but my sin; there- 
fore I dare not lift up mine eyes, but am abashed 
before Thee, since I have so often provoked Thee, 
my God, my Creator and my Father, with sins 
great and manifold. So if Thou wouldst deal with 
me according to deserts, I should be and forever 
remain a child of wrath and eternal damnation. 
But, O my God and Father, I take comfort in Thy 
great mercy, and in Thy grace unfathomable, in- 
finite, unspeakable, and without measure; a grace 
Thou Thyself didst promise and confirm with a 
solemn oath when saying, "As I live, I have no 
pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the 
wicked turn from his way and live." I take com- 



60 

fort in Thine only begotten Son, mine only Ee- 
deemer, Justifier, Mediator and Savior, who by vir- 
tue of his obedience, suffering, and death, has re- 
gained Thy favor for me, and has given me who 
believes in Him power to be and remain His child 
and heir. Therefore, I do not despair but I confess 
unto Thee my sins, those of thoughts and deeds, 
those secret and public, and I plead guilty in Thy 
Sight of being a great malefactor and evildoer. So 
nothing remains but to come to Thy throne of 
grace, relying on Thy word with a meek heart and 
yet a fearless spirit, and basing in true faith and 
firm confidence on the grace Thou hast promised, 
and on the bitter sufferings of Thy dear Son. And 
I cry from the inmost of my heart: Abba, my Fa- 
ther and Lord, have mercy on me! O my God, be 
gracious to me, a poor sinner, and forgive all my 
sins, original and actual — all thoughts, words, and 
deeds that, knowingly or unknowingly, were at en- 
mity with Thy word. There is in me, that is in 
my flesh, no good thing. In sins have I been con- 
ceived and born, in sins have I lived and shall con- 
tinue to live, as long as I have this sinful flesh. 
My transgressions are continually before Thee. 
Thou seest in me more and greater sins, by a thou- 
sandfold than I myself can see, know or realize. O 
Lord, do not enter into judgment with Thy servant, 
for in Thy sight shall no man living be justified. 



61 

Be gracious unto me, for Jesus Christ, Thy Son 
my Lord and Savior's sake, and blot out my trans- 
gressions according to Thy great mercy — greater 
than the sins of all mankind. Purge me with hys- 
sop, and wash me with the pure blood of Thy Son, 
which He shed upon the cross. Let me be Thy child 
and heir, a vessel of Thy grace, and an abode of 
the Holy Spirit. O Lord, save, comfort, and refresh 
me with the joy of Thy salvation. Thy holy, joy- 
ous and life-giving Spirit lend gladness to my dis- 
tressed soul and contrite heart. The bruised reed 
Thou wilt not break, O Lord, and the smoking flax 
Thou wilt not quench. Thou wilt not cast me away 
from Thy presence, of this I feel confident. Thou 
wilt not suffer me to despair, but wilt renew me 
with Thy right Spirit, who will be kindling and 
confirming true faith and comfort in my heart. O 
Lord, my faithful God and Father, hear my prayer, 
that I may be and remain Thy child and temple 
now and forever. Let me not fall into error and 
vices, which war against my conscience. Preserve 
me from blood-guilt, and from all ills. Give me a 
constant delight in Thy word, that I may gladly 
hear it, read it, meditate on it and minister unto 
others thereby. Grant, that I may speak of it day 
and night, and that my mouth may show forth Thy 
righteousness and praise. For all this I will ever 
love, bless, and praise Thee, my God and Lord, to- 



62 



gether with Thy Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, and 
the Holy Spirit, evermore thanking and serving 
Thee, with, all men and angels, to all eternity. 
Amen. 



37 

A Prayer for Reconciliation with our Neighbor 

O MEKCIFUL JESUS, Moved by Thy grace I 
am about to go to Confession and Absolution, for 
the remission of sins. But I recall Thine earnest 
words: If thou bring thy gift to the altar, and 
there rememberest that thy brother hath aught 
against thee; leave there thy gift before the altar, 
and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, 
and then come and offer the gift. Now unfortun- 
ately, I have gotten into a strained relation with 
my neighbor, therefore, grant me Thy grace and sq 
rule me, that my heart may be inclined to recon- 
ciliation. I recognize the hardness of my heart, 
and acknowledge the difficulty of keeping my flesh 
and blood in subjection, abstaining from all wrath 
and desire for revenge. But I desire, yea, I suppli- 
cate Thee, O Lord, to take out of my flesh the 
heart of stone and give me a heart of flesh, a heart 
of love and reconciliation. Make of me a person 



63 



that loves his enemy, blesses those that curse him, 
does good to those that hate him, and prays for 
those that despitef ully use him and persecute him. 
O, let me ever be mindful of judgment day and the 
rigid (strict) account I must render, so that I may 
abandon -the enmity that looks to death and de- 
struction, and agree with mine adversary, while in 
the way with him, and not let the sun go down up- 
on my wrath. And even as I, in Thy name, pardon 
and forgive all persons by whom I have been of- 
fended, so grant that I may also find those whom I 
have hurt and provoked willing to pardon and for- 
give me. O Lord Jesus, forgive us all our sins 
and so rule our hearts as to live together in a 
peaceful and Christian spirit, blessing Thy name 
here in time and hereafter in eternity. Amen. 



Brief Instruction on Holy Communion 

Why do you intend to go to Holy Communion? 

This question each communicant should put to 
himself, before he approaches the Table of the 
Lord. For there are not a few who go to the Lord's 
Supper either quite thoughtlessly and stupidly, or 
with quite the wrong intention. Some go from 
mere force of habit; others, only because they are 



64 

held to it by their parents; others again, because 
they consider it a meritorious deed to go to the 
Lord's Supper; still others, because they wish to 
acquire or retain before men the appearance and 
name of a pious Christian. It is no wonder, if such 
communicants derive no blessing from the Holy 
Supper, but grow worse as time goes on. 

A communicant who wishes to receive the Lord's 
Supper to his salvation, must, in first place, fully 
realize what the Lord's Supper is, and for what 
purpose it was instituted by Christ ; and, in second 
place, he must have a heart worthy and well pre- 
pared. 

Those have an entirely wrong conception of the 
Holy Sacrament who consider it merely an empty 
memorial, instituted only for the purpose of re- 
membering the sufferings and death of Christ. No 
indeed, Holy Communion is that exalted, blessed 
mystery, by means of which Christ gives us, in the 
consecrated bread, his body to eat, and in the con- 
secrated wine, his blood to drink — the very body 
he assumed from the Virgin Mary, and gave into 
death on the cross for our sins; and the very blood 
he shed on the cross for the remission of our sin. 
True, we cannot see this with our eyes, taste it 
with our mouth, or grasp it with our mind, but 
we are to believe it, because our Lord and Savior 
says: Take and eat, this is my body; drink ye all 



65 

of it, this is my blood. This same Savior of ours 
is true, who will certainly bring to pass what He 
has promised in the words of His testament ; He is 
of infinite wisdom and knows of ways and means to 
fulfill his promises, even when beyond our under- 
standing; He too is almighty, with Him nothing is 
impossible; He is able to do exceedingly abundantly 
above all that we ask or think. If we earnestly 
believe that we receive the true body and blood of 
our Savior — true God and man in one person — in 
Holy Communion, and not mere bread and wine, 
we shall then approach the Table of the Lord, not 
thoughtlessly and lightly, but in deepest reverence 
and humility of heart, saying in the words oi the 
centurion, Lord, I am not worthy that Thou should- 
est come under my roof. 

The benefit derived from Holy Communion is of 
a threefold nature. 

In the first place, by a worthy communion we 
receive forgiveness of sin and the assurance there- 
of. God, rich in love, has provided a great diversity 
of means to render poor sinners certain of the for- 
giveness of their sins. These means are the preach- 
ing of the Gospel, Holy Baptism, Absolution and 
also Holy Communion. Do not be too inquisitive 
in asking why God has instituted four means in- 
stead of one, for the purpose of conveying to us 
the forgiveness of our sin and making us sure and 



66 

certain of this, but rather thank him for these 
rich provisions. Whoever knows from personal ex- 
perience how hard it is for a soul under conviction 
of sin to believe that his sins are forgiven, will 
realize the greatness of God's grace and providing 
care in giving us not merely one, but several means 
of becoming certain of the forgiveness of sin. As 
surely, therefore, as you, with your mouth, partake 
of your Lord's body, given into death for the re- 
mission of your sins, and partake of your Lord's 
blood, shed for the remission of your sins, so cer- 
tain you are to be of having the forgiveness of sin 
for your own. 

The second benefit of Holy Communion is life — 
not our natural life received at birth and sustained 
by food and drink, but the new spiritual life that 
begins in regeneration through Holy Baptism, and 
consists in faith in our Lord Jesus Christ and in 
the love of God and our neighbor. But since this 
new life is weak and imperfect as yet, hence in 
need of constant growth, our Lord has designated 
his Holy Supper as a spiritual nourishment for the 
strengthening of this spiritual life. Of this Luther 
writes : "Holy Communion is well called a food for 
the soul, as it nourishes and strengthens the new 
man; for while we are born again by Baptism, man 
retains his old nature in his flesh and blood, and 
there are so many obstacles and temptations on the 



67 

part of the devil and the world, that we often grow 
faint and weary and at times even falter. So the 
Lord's Supper is given for a daily food and nour- 
ishment, that faith may be refreshed and strength- 
ened and not repulsed in this battle, but even grow 
stronger and stronger; for the new life is of such 
a nature, that it must constantly grow and pro- 
gress. Again, this new life has a great deal to en- 
dure, for the devil is an enemy of great wrath; 
when he finds that he cannot take us by a bold 
stroke, we resisting him and attacking our old 
Adam, he tries all his wiles, presents all his allure- 
ments, and does not desist until he has tired us out, 
so that we either abandon our faith, or turn list- 
less or impatient. But when our heart is in this 
condition, being about to succumb, we have the 
comfort that it can, in this Sacrament be again 
strengthened and refreshed. 

The third benefit is eternal salvation ; because even 
as sin, unforgiven, bars us from salvation, so for- 
giveness of sin opens the door to eternal salvation, 
"For where there is forgiveness of sin, there is also 
life and salvation." Now, all depends on commun- 
ing worthily and well prepared, if we would receive 
this threefold, salutary benefit. This, however, is 
not a worthiness according to the law, but accord- 
ing to the gospel. It does not consist in absolute 
freedom from sin and perfection of life, but rather 



in fully realizing our unworthiness and sinfulness, 
in having a contrite heart that is spiritually poor, 
in earnestly desiring the forgiveness of sins, also 
taking comfort in this forgiveness, or at least try- 
ing to, in considering our sins great indeed, but 
relying and depending solely on our Lord Jesus 
Christ. On the other hand, those are unworthy 
and ill prepared who either, in the conceit of self- 
righteousness, fancy they need no forgiveness of 
sin — like the Pharisee who prayed thus with him- 
self, "Lord, I thank Thee that I am not as other 
men are" — or who wholly despair of the forgive- 
ness of sin, as did Cain — who said, "My punishment 
is greater than I can bear," — and who will not let 
you relieve them of their thoughts of despair. 
There is another class of unworthy communicants, 
who persist in their wicked purposes, and continue 
tc serve sin knowingly, or who live in a state of 
relentless enmity with their neighbors. When such 
unworthy communicants receive the Lord's Sup- 
per, they too receive the body and blood of Christ, 
but they receive it to judgment, and to their 
greater damnation. For this very purpose St. Paul 
adds the earnest warning: "Let a man examine 
himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink 
of that cup. For he that eateth and drinketh un- 
worthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to . him- 
self, not discerning the Lord's body." And who- 



69 



ever recognizes in himself these marks of an un- 
worthy communicant should not presume to go to 
the Lord's Table in such condition. We do not 
mean that he should stay away permanently, but 
he should forthwith o#me to himself, and turn peni- 
tent from being impenitent. 

But are those of weak faith to be classed with 
the unworthy communicants? Not at all; for such 
are very welcome guests at Christ's Table, as are 
indeed weak in faith and frail in walk, but keenly 
feel their weakness, and yearn to become stronger. 
Such the Lord will in no wise cast out; He rather 
invites them, inasmuch as He instituted this Holy 
Supper, especially for the weak and the frail, that 
they might gather strength from this spiritual 
food. To them He says: "Come unto me, all ye 
that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you 
rest," and again, "Him that cometh to me I will 
in no wise cast out," 



38 

Morning Prayer for a Communicant 

O LOKD JESUS, This morning I rejoice in be- 
ing privileged, because of Thy great goodness, to- 
gether with my fellow-Christians, to go to Thy 



70 

house; and to partake of Thy body and blood, in. 
with and under the consecrated bread and wine. 
Oh, how my soul longeth, yea even f ainteth for the 
courts of the Lord and His altar! As the hart 
panteth after the water broods, so panteth my soul 
after Thee, my Redeemer. For Thou art my shep- 
herd; I shall not want. O Lord Jesus, even as 
Thou hast begun the good work in me, a poor 
wretched sinner, so also mercifully perform it, by 
the gracious aid of Thy Holy Spirit, unto Thy 
honor and the welfare and salvation of my soul. O 
dearest Redeemer, I am indeed not worthy that 
Thou shouldest come under my roof, but may Thy 
grace, able to do all things, render me worthy and 
well prepared, so that Thy true body and blood, a 
priceless nourishment, may refresh my soul in this 
heavenly feast of love and joy. Array Thou me. 
I beseech Thee, in the vestures of salvation and in 
the garment of the righteousness of true faith, 
that I may not be found among the guests without 
wedding garments, but be a worthy guest at Thy 
Table and partake of all the treasures of grace 
Thou hast provided. May Thy grace, O Lord Jesus, 
be and remain with me; even as my hope is contin- 
ually in Thee. May Thy providence preserve my 
spirit, my life and my being. And do Thou be- 
stow, O faithful God, what else I may stand in need 
of in this world and the next. 



71 



Thou, who feedest us below! 

Source of all we have or know! 

Grant that with Thy saints above 

We may share Thy feast of love! Amen. 



39 

Prayer for a Worthy Communion 

BEHOLD, I come, my Savior, upon Thy most 
affectionate invitation. Let me find grace in Thine 
eyes, Thou lover of life, For who am I, that Thou 
callest me so kindly? Though I were holier than 
the angels, I would not, for that reason, be worthy 
of this repast; for how could I, being of unclean 
lips, yea, vile and base, be counted worthy, unless 
Thou make me worthy? Therefore, answer before 
1 call, and prepare me by Thy grace. Thou hast 
said: "Him that cometh to me, I will in no wise 
cast out," so take my soul into Thy keeping, accord- 
ing to Thy great compassion. Remember, O Lord 
Jesus, that I have in my nature much that is evil, 
and nothing that is good; help me for Thy mercy's 
sake. Oh, see how poor and wretched I am; O Thou 
Savior of the world, keep in rememberance Thy 
faithfulness, and satisfy my heart with grace. How 
gladly I would appear before Thee in perfect faith 



72 



and with due reverence and fervent devotion. But 
how am I to do this, unless by and through Thee, 
Thou author and finisher of my faith? Do Thou 
therefore, grant what is well pleasing to Thee. 
Graciously remove what displeases Thee, or at least 
cover it, I humbly pray Thee, with the cloak of Thy 
righteousness. Blessed is the soul that is accept- 
able to Thee. Open my eyes, that I may see the 
wonders of Thy institutions. Awaken my heart, 
remove from me all foreign thoughts, increase my 
hope, kindle my affections, render fervent my de- 
votion, cleanse me of all uncleanness and sanctify 
me wholly, that I may aproach Thy Table in cheer- 
ful confidence, and with a pure mouth, holy heart 
and heartfelt desire, partake to the blessing, life, 
and salvation of my soul. Amen. 



40 

A Prayer of Thanks upon Partaking of Holy 
Communion 

O LOED JESUS CHRIST, I render Thee 
hearty thanks and praise, that Thou hast again 
cleansed me, a poor sinful being, from mine iniqui- 
ties, and hast also, for a firm assurance of this 
cleansing and remission of all my sins, nourished 



73 



me with Thy true body and blood. And I further- 
more thank Thee, that upon such cleansing, Thou 
hast agarn received me, a defiled child, into the 
loving arms of Thy grace and mercy, and hast pre- 
sented me to Thy Father, "holy and unblamable in 
his sight." 

And I pray^Thee, with my whole heart and all my 
strength, graciously to add to these benefits Thy 
grace, through the action of the Holy Spirit, that 
I may acknowledge Thy great goodness and mercy, 
receive it with thanksgiving and heartily laud and 
praise Thee all the days of my life. 

Do Thou, furthermore, by Thy Holy Spirit, so 
dispose me that I may heartily forgive my neigh- 
bor whatever he may have done against me, even 
as Thou, O Lord, hast altogether cancelled and for- 
given all my great and manifold transgressions, 
yea, hast entirely blotted them out of Thy remem- 
brance. 

And finally grant, O Lord, that I may love my 
neighbor and do deeds of kindness to him with an 
honest heart; for Thou hast done more for me 
than I can ever thank Thee for; so that Thou, O 
holy and faithful God, mayest be extolled and 
praised by us, now and forevermore, together with 
the Father and the Holy Ghost. Amen. 



74 
41 



Prayer for Preservation from Sin, and for their 
Remission when Committed 

O THOU GOD Of grace and mercy, our dear 
Father in heaven, moved by grace and divine love, 
Thou hast given us Thy dear Son, and with Him 
full salvation and grace. We now pray Thee, dear 
Father, preserve unto us this precious boon and 
heavenly gift, even the blessed contemplation of 
Thy dear Son, Jesus Christ, so that we do not lose 
Him through ingratitude, or otherwise be deprived 
of Him. We are indeed poor, wretched, and frail 
beings, who fall from one sin into the next; sin- 
ning now in thoughts, now in words, now in deeds 
sc that we are in great danger of falling from 
faith. There is no rest for us, no peace; the devil 
lies in wait for our thoughts, ever tempting and 
instigating; the world is on the watch for our 
words and deeds, for our walk and ways, giving us 
many an offense and many occasions for sinning ; 
nor is our flesh by any means idle. Besides there 
are "incidental sins, vices and faults, to which we 
are daily subject, which grievously burden our con- 
sciences, and convert the joy of our heart to very 
sorrow and grief. 



75 



Therefore, we pray Thee, Thou God of mercy 
and grace, be Thou ever our faithful God, though 
we may have been negligent and thankless, not 
walking so carefully as we should. Be kind, com- 
forting, gracious, and merciful towards us; reward 
us not according to our iniquities, but cleanse our 
heart and conscience by Thy word, that we may 
serve Thee in sorrow and in joy, and render unto 
Thee thanks, honor, and praise in time and eter- 
nity. Amen. 



42 

A Prayer of Meditation on the Sufferings of 
Christ 

O MY DEAE LOED JESUS, When I look upon 
Thee, how in the Garden Thou wast exceeding sor- 
rowful, and Thy sweat was, as it were, great drops 
of blood; when I see Thee taken prisoner, bound, 
mocked, and treated despitefully during that whole 
night and time of darkness; then in early morn- 
ing behold Thee, the spotless Lamb, falsely accused, 
beaten with many stripes, condemned to death, 
hanged on the cross, Thy hands and feet pierced; 
yea, every member of Thy holy body wounded — 
when I behold all this, I see in it nothing but my 



76 

sin, guilt, and iniquity, which has driven Thee to 
this, and on account of which Thou didst subject 
Thyself to all this anguish, suffering and pain. 
Alas! I, O Lord, have deserved to suffer all Thou 
didst endure; I am the caus3 of it all. How mys- 
terious are God's ways, that the innocent must pay 
what the guilty has incurred, that the godly must 
atone for the guilt of the ungodly. 

The debts the servant incurred, the Master must 
pay; what sinful man has laden upon himself his 
God must bear. O Thou Son of the living God, 
how great is Thy love and mercy towards us men. 
What hast Thou not done and suffered, in order to 
redeem me, a poor lost sinner, and save me from 
death and eternal damnation! I have transgressed 
and Thou art stricken; I have sinned, and Thou 
didst make amends. I have been disobedient, and 
because of my disobedience Thou must endure this 
anguish and distress. O Thou Lord of glory, what 
return am I able to render for all the mercies and 
all the truth, which Thou hast shown unto me? 
How can I poor, needy mortal, recompense Thee? 
O Lord, this debt remains unpaid and cannot be 
cancelled by anything in heaven or on earth. It 
is Thy grace and mercy, Thy love and truth, and 
this will ever remain unrequited by me, a poor sin- 
ner. But since I have not wherewithal to pay my 
debt, I do render Thee most heartfelt thanks for 



77 



all Thy mercy towards me, and I will praise and 
magnify Thy name from henceforth and even for 
evermore. Amen. 



43 

Prayer at Time of Drouth 

O FAITHFUL, True and righteous God, Thou 
hast in Thy word of truth informed us, in a man- 
ner most comforting, that an earnest, fervent, 
faithful, and persevering prayer penetrates the 
heavens, and not only comes before Thy face with- 
out fail, but is effectual and availeth much. There- 
fore, upon Thy comforting direction, we, Thy 
needy children, have come into the presence of 
Thine exalted, divine majesty in this period of un- 
usual and exceedingly protracted heat and drouth 
with our confident, hearty and most earnest peti- 
tions, humbly praying Thee, Thou wouldst gra- 
ciously hear us according to Thy promise, merciful- 
ly turn Thy great wrath from us, give the parched 
earth again the moisture it needs, by having the 
quickening rain descend in drops and showers, that 
the soil may again bring forth and yield the fruits 
necessary for the substance of our lives, as intend- 
ed by Thy fatherly care at the time of creation. 



78 



And even as in time of old Thou didst, upon the 
earnest prayer of Thy faithful servant and prophet 
Elias, open the closed heaven and cause it to rain 
upon the thirsty earth: so do we now trust that 
Thou wilt deal mercifully with us in this time of 
great heat and drought, granting us this our earn- 
est prayer, because of Thy fatherly care for us; 
through Jesus Christ, Thy dear Son, our only Re- 
deemer and Savior. Amen. 



44 

Prayer for Sunshine in a Season of Continued 
Rains 

LORD, GOD ALMIGHTY, Thou hast clothed 
the heavens in darkness and covered the earth as 
with a shroud; Thou didst, in days of yore visit 
the world in Thy wrath with the waters of the 
flood, because of man's vice and wickedness, de- 
stroying everything that had life and breath on 
dry land. At this time we too are being visited, on 
account of our manifold transgressions and in ac- 
cordance with Thy stern justice, with unusual rains 
and with protracted and continued wet weather, 
greatly to the injury of the fruits of the land. O 
merciful Father, Thou didst after the flood close 



79 



the fountains of the deep and the windows of the 
heavens, and didst have the rains to cease; remove 
from us all our sins and transgressions, and avert 
the punishment we deserve and let the damaging 
rains and great waters subside. For the earth is 
gloomy, and the heavens above are mournful. Look 
upon that token in the clouds, the rainbow, and re- 
member Thy promise; do Thou grant good and 
fruitful weather, so that the fruits of" the field and 
the garden be not ruined by the excessive rains and 
a famine ensue. O Lord, Thou faithful God, who 
canst not lie, Thou hast said: The waters shall no 
more become a flood to destroy all flesh. There- 
fore, O Lord, be merciful! Do not have Thy com- 
passion shut out by Thy wrath; do not take Thy 
grace and mercy from us. Give not unto us dearth 
of bread; bless our bread, so that we may always 
have food sufficient and praise Thy name; thus we 
shall see that we are truly Thy children, for whom 
Thou dost faithfully provide, and honor and praise 
Thee, as our heavenly Father, all the days of our 
lives. Amen. 



80 
45 

Prayer for the Fruits of the Field 

DEAE LORD GOD, Graciously preserve the 
precious fruits of the field, purify the air, grant 
quickening rains and good weather, that our crops 
may mature, and we and our stock may not, by 
eating them, take pestilence, fever and other ills; 
for such plagues come when evil spirits poison the 
air and thereupon the fruits, wine and grain, so 
that we by Thy visitation eat and drink sickness 
and death with our own products. Therefore, O 
Lord, bless unto us these Thy gifts, that they may 
advance our health and well-being, and grant that 
we do not misuse them to the injury of our soul and 
the multiplying of sins, such as intemperance and 
idleness, from which unchastity, adultery, cursing, 
swearing, murder, war, and all manner of ills come ; 
but grant us grace that we may use Thy gifts to 
our soul's salvation and the improvement of our 
lives and that the fruits of the land may be a means 
of sustaining and improving the health of our body 
and soul. Amen. 



81 
46 

Prayer During a Thunderstorm 

O GOD, Almighty and powerful in heaven and 
on earth, we are reminded by Thy present thunder- 
ing and lightning that Thou art very wroth with 
us sinful mortals. By this resounding noise, at 
which all creatures tremble and are terrified, Thou 
dost, as by a veritable mourner's bell, call us to a 
knowledge of our sins and to true repentance, that 
we may not be condemned with the evil wicked 
world. Thou, Lord, art so mighty and power- 
ful that Thou couldst instantly destroy the whole 
world with a single stroke of lightning, if Thou 
wouldst deal according to stern justice. But we 
bend our knees and humbly beseech Thee to cease 
from Thy fierce wrath, which is kindled against 
our sins like a fire. Have compassion on us, spare 
us, lift up Thy face upon us and be gracious unto 
us. Preserve our body and a life, house and 
home, city and country, our property and all 
our belongings, also the fruits of the field, from 
hail, lightning, great floods and all harm. Keep us 
also from a sudden evil death and graciously grant 
that many sinners, deterred from their ungodly 
walks and ways by Thy word, Thy thunder and 



82 

lightning, may turn in heart and be converted un- 
tc Thee. Let us at all hours and moments be mind- 
ful of Thy glorious coming to judgment and be 
prepared to receive Thee with joy and to enter 
eternal bliss with Thee, Amen. O Lord, be mer- 
ciful and gracious unto us poor sinners in our body 
and soul, both in this life and the one to come. 
Amen. 



47 

A Prayer of Thanks after the Thunderstorm 

ALMIGHTY GOD, Heavenly Father, who hast 
said unto us, "Call upon me in the day of trouble; 
I will deliver thee and thou shalt glorify me," we 
render Thee heartfelt thanks and praise for hav- 
ing graciously heard our prayer and caused the 
wild storm to pass by without injury to us in per- 
son or property. In this wise Thou hast again, like 
as a father shown, Thy faithful heart towards us, 
in that Thou dost not deal with us after our sins, 
nor reward us according to our iniquities. Grant 
unto us, O Father of grace, for the sake of Thine 
only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, that we may con- 
stantly amend our walk because of these earnest 
admonitions, live in Thy fear henceforth and pre- 



83 



pare for the coming of Thy dear Son, in order mat 
we may meet Him in gladness, enter the new 
heaven, in which righteousness dwells, with joy and 
rejoicing, and eternally possess it with Thee in 
blissful contemplation of Thyself, through the 
same, Thy dear Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord. 
Amen. 



48 

Prayer in Great Weakness of Faith 

O LOED, I now realize in very truth that not 
every man hath faith. I believe, O Lord, but help 
my unbelief! Do not break the bruised reed, nor 
quench the smoking flax. O Jesus Christ, Thou 
who sittest at the right hand of God make inter- 
cession for me that my faith fail not. Be the author 
and finisher of my faith, that I may be able to 
quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. 
Though I see not, let me yet believe and thus be 
saved. Amen. 



84 
49 

A Prayer in Great Distress and Danger 

O ALMIGHTY GOD And Father, ever ready to 
help, Thou seest and knowest that we live in great 
distress and danger, we knowing of neither coun- 
sel nor help and finding in us no power nor ability 
of escaping this great trouble. So our eyes are 
turned to Thee, our only comfort, refuge and 
helper, who hast said, "Call upon me in the day of 
trouble, I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glori- 
fy me." Our heart submits to Thy word of prom- 
ise, and now seeks Thy face in childlike humility 
and confidence. O Lord, hide not Thy gracious 
face from us, and cast not Thy children from Thee 
in wrath; do not Thou forsake us nor withdraw 
Thy hand from us, God, our salvation, who work- 
est salvation to the ends of the earth. Therefore, 
let us experience Thy help and be Thou gracious 
unto us. In Thee, O Lord, our soul trusts and un- 
der the shadow of Thy wings we find refuge until 
these dangers have passed by. Turn Thou again 
to us and satisfy us early with Thy mercy, then 
shall we offer the sacrifice of praise and bless Thy 
name, for it is good. Make us glad according to 
the days wherein Thou hast afflicted us, and the 
years wherein we have seen evil. Stand Thou by 



85 



us in trouble, so shall we praise Thee and rejoice 
over Thy help all the days of our life. Amen. 



50 

A Prayer of Thanks after a Safe Journey 

GRACIOUS GOD, Heavenly Father, to Thee 
I render thanks from the inmost of my heart that 
Thou hast granted me a safe journey and, by the 
protection of Thy dear angels, hast brought me 
back to my family, which has made our hearts glad. 
It is due to Thy fatherly care that I have been 
preserved from all harm, not having been killed 
by robbers or wild animals, nor having perished or 
suffered injury in floods or other dangers. I have 
been led in safety and good health to my journey's 
end and back again, as was young Tobias by the 
angel Raphael. For all this I owe thanks to Thy 
fatherly care and almighty protection, and I heart- 
ily pray Thee, that Thou wouldest graciously ex- 
tend to me and my family Thine almighty protec- 
tion, and sustain body and soul by Thy power unto 
life eternal, for Christ Jesus' sake. Amen. 



86 
51 

Thanks for Deliverance from Afflictions 

I THANK THEE LORD, My God, with my 
whole heart, and honor Thy name continually. I 
shall render thanks unto Thee forever, for Thou 
hast done all things well. Behold, for peace I had 
great bitterness, but Thou hast in love to my soul 
delivered it from the pit of corruption. In my dis- 
tress I called unto Thee and Thou hast heard my 
voice, and my cry did enter into Thine ears, and 
Thou hast comforted me. Thou hast faithfully 
stood by me, graciously upheld my soul, and finally, 
as a father, delivered me out of my great tribula- 
tions. O my Lord and my God, how shall I requite 
Thee for all the benefits Thou daily bestowest up- 
on me ? I will praise Thy name as long as I live ; 
I will extol Thee in the pres3nce of all Thy people, 
Thy glory shall continually be in my mouth. O 
Thou faithful God, help me, by Thy Spirit, to pay 
my vows, and never to forget what Thou hast done 
for my soul, that I do not only spread Thy praise 
while in this mortal frame, but also sing everlast- 
ing hallelujahs to Thy praise with the elect in 
heaven. Amen. 



52 

Morning Prayer for a Sick Person 

THOU Faithful God and Father of our Lord 
Jesus Christ, I thank and praise Thee for having, 
during the past night, so graciously kept, protected 
and refreshed me with sleep, and I heartily pray 
Thee, in the name of Jesus Christ, to turn to me 
in mercy this day and all the remaining days of 
my life, to pardon mine iniquity, to comfort me by 
Thy grace, to strengthen me by Thy power, to 
guide me by Thy Holy Spirit, that I may live and 
suffer according to Thy will. I commend my sick 
body and my precious soul into Thy hands. Thy 
holy angel be with me, that the wicked one may 
have no power nor influence over me; through Je- 
sus Christ, Thy dear Son, my only comfort and 
Savior, in the power of the Holy Ghost. Amen. 

53 

Another Morning Prayer for a Sick Person 

1 COMMIT Myself this day and all the days of 
my life to Thee, God, the eternal Father, who hast 
created me; to Thee, God, the eternal Son, who 
hast redeemed me; to Thee, God the Holy Ghost, 



88 

who hast sanctified me in my baptism. O eternal di- 
vinity, O true humanity, O Holy Trinity, render 
Thou me fit at all times to enter eternal bliss. 
Amen. 

O Benignant and merciful God and Father, by 
Thy grace I have again passed the night and have 
lived to see glad daylight once more. I thank Thee 
that Thou hast been my guard and keeper, my com- 
forter and helper; that Thou hast, as a father, sus- 
tained my frail body and my downcast soul; that 
Thou hast preserved me from a sudden death, great 
temptations and other ills; and that Thou hast, by 
Thy holy angels, powerfully protected me against 
the devil, the prince of darkness. It is due to Thy 
mercy and grace that I still live. Do Thou also 
this day, I heartily pray Thee, turn Thy face unto 
me, and so guard and guide me that nothing sin- 
ful be in my thoughts, words, or actions. Lead me, 
Thy needy sheep, in the paths of Thy holy word, 
which is my only comfort in my distress. Preserve 
me, O Lord, for I trust in Thee; Thou art my on- 
ly strength, my God, and my greatest treasure. Do 
Thou direct my mind and desire towards fearing 
and also loving Thee, dispelling all that does not 
emanate from Thee. Hide me in Thee, that in my 
cross and my distress I may submit my will to Thee 
and trust in Thee alone, since no man can coun- 
sel or save me. But Thou art the true physician 



89 



of all sick, the true comfort for all in distress, the 
only salvation of the dying. Do Thou heal me, 
comfort me and save me, O heavenly Father ! Espe- 
cially do Thou this day preserve me from sin and 
all evil, from the wiles of the devil, from the of- 
fenses of the world and the evil lusts of my own 
sinful flesh. Grant unto me patience, hope and 
perseverance. And when the time of my sojourn- 
ing is at an end, give me an easy and blessed death 
through Jesus Christ, Thy dear Son, my Savior. 
Amen. 



54 

Evening Prayer for a Sick Person 

O LORD GOD, My Father, I thank Thee for 
Thy gracious assistance during this day, and I 
earnestly pray Thee, succor me, a weak and sick 
person, during this approaching night, with Thy 
grace, with Thy power, with Thy comfort, with 
Thy Spirit. Into Thy hands I commend my body 
and soul. Thy holy angel be with me that the 
wicked one may have no power over me; through 
Jesus Christ, Thy dear Son, our Lord. Amen. 



90 

55 

Another Evening Prayer for a Sick Person 

O ALMIGHTY And merciful God, beloved Fa- 
ther, Thou hast said, "Call upon me in the day of 
trouble, I will deliver thee/' I now beseech Thee in 
this evening hour, have mercy upon me and remit 
all my sins, wherewith possibly I have offended 
Thee during the day. I commend myself to Thee 
for the approaching night, that my soul may find 
rest in Thee though my body be in pain. Gra- 
ciously prevent a sudden death without the saving 
knowledge of Thy dear Son. If it be Thy gracious 
will, let me rest without pain of body or distress of 
soul, and suffer me to see the morrow. But if this 
is to be my last night on earth, and Thou, in Thy 
unsearchable counsel, hast decreed to summon me 
hence, I humbly pray Thee, Thou wouldest let me 
enter the eternal day of heaven and make me a 
doorkeeper in Thy kingdom. In Thy name I now 
go to sleep. Whether I awaken to natural or eter- 
nal life, I will heartily love and praise Thee, my 
faithful God. Amen., In Jesus' name, Amen. 



91 
56 



A Prayer in Sickness 

THOU Merciful and gracious God and Father, 
I acknowledge and confess to Thee, that I have not 
spent my life (which I received from Thee) profit- 
ably and to Thy honor, but to the satisfying of the 
desires of my flesh, having served myself and the 
world more than Thee. O Lord, I am heartily sor- 
ry for having spent the short time of my life to 
such bad purpose, and I now see that Thou dost 
visit me on account of my sins in sending upon me 
this sickness, in order to call me to repentance. 
Thou dost judge me in equity, O Lord, and dost 
chastise me, that I be not condemned with the 
wicked world. By this sickness Thou dost remind 
me of my mortal state, teaching me to know mine 
end, and the measure of my days, what it is. Sure- 
ly every man walketh in a vain show; he heapeth 
up riches and knoweth not who shall gather them. 
And now, what wait I for? My hope is in Thee, 
Deliver me from my transgressions. I know, O 
Lord, that my times are in Thy hand, Thou hast 
written all my members in Thy book, which in con- 
tinuance were fashioned, when as yet there were 
none of them. My substance was not hid from Thee, 
when I was curiously wrought in my mother's 



92 

womb. Since now it is Thy will that I should be 
sick, let me gladly submit to this Thy will. O Lord, 
Thine arrows stick fast in me, and Thy hand press- 
eth me sore. There is no soundness in my flesh, 
because of Thine anger, neither is there any rest 
in my bones because of my sins; for my sins cover 
me and as a heavy burden, they are too heavy for 
me. O my God, preserve my soul from all tempta- 
tions, and let this sickness of the body act as a 
remedy for the restoring of my soul. Do Thou 
keep my heart and mind, and protect me against 
the fiery darts of the devil with Thy shield and 
buckler by the peace of my Lord Jesus Christ. 
Thou knowest, O Lord, that I am the work of Thy 
hands, Thou hast formed me out of the clay; we 
are the clay, and Thou our potter. Alas, how I am 
broken to pieces! Therefore, O Lord, spare me; 
Thou wilt not cast away nor in Thy wrath destroy 
the work of Thy hand; Thou hast separated me 
from my mother's womb, Thou didst make me hope, 
when I was upon my mother's breasts, Thou art the 
Lord and the giver of my life and hast power to 
take it again according to Thy pleasure. If it be 
Thy will, show mercy unto me as Thou didst to 
king Hezekiah, adding fifteen years to his life. 
Behold, for peace, I have great bitterness; in love 
keep my soul and deliver it from the pit of cor- 
ruption and cast all my sins behind Thy back. 



93 



Should this sickness not be unto death, then re- 
store me to health; for I am very frail. O Lord 
Jesus Christ, Thou heavenly physician, take me in- 
to Thy treatment, relieve my pain, heal me by Thy 
wounds, and let Thy bitter sufferings and death b9 
my restoration. O Lord, let me touch the hem of 
Thy garment, namely, Thy word and sacrament, in 
which Thou art wrapped up, and restore me by 
the power proceeding from Thee. But if it be Thy 
will that in this sickness I shall go the way of all 
flesh, be it so, for I am no better than my fathers, 
only, O Lord, let Thy servant depart in peace, ac- 
cerding to Thy word, for mine eyes have seen Thy 
salvation, which Thou hast prepared before the 
face of all people, a light to lighten the Gentiles, 
and the glory of Thy people Israel. Amen. 



57 

Prayer of Contrition in Sickness 

O ALMIGHTY GOD And Father, who dost visit 
men because of their sins, with divers plagues, 
especially bodily sickness, in order to chastise them, 
lest they be condemned with the world: I come to 
Thee laden with sin and confess that I have de- 
served not only this sickness, but also eternal dam- 



94 



nation, being not only by nature a child of wrath 
and sold under sin, but having times untold trans- 
gressed all Thy commandments. But I take refuge 
in Thy boundless mercy and humbly pray Thee, 
enter not into judgment with me, for in Thy sight 
shall no man living be justified. Remember not the 
sins of my youth, nor my transgressions, but 
for Thy name's sake pardon mine iniquity, 
for it is great. Remove Thy stroke away from 
me and hearken unto the voice of my cry, hold not 
Thy peace at my tears. Spare me that I may re- 
cover strength, before I go hence, and be no more. 
Behold, dear Father, for peace, I have great bitter- 
ness, in love deliver my soul from the pit of cor- 
ruption and cast all my sins behind Thy back. And 
do Thou also regard my bodily sickness, either re- 
moving or alleviating it by Thy comfort; grant pa- 
tience, help me carry my cross, and save my soul, 
I submit to Thy will, do Thou as it seemeth good 
unto Thee, for Thine I am and would remain, 
Amen. 



m 



95 

58 

Brief Prayers for the Sick — For Each Hour of 
the Day 

i 

AT ONE O'CLOCK 

O THOU One true God, my Father and Creator, 
from whom health and sickness, prosperity and ad- 
versity proceed, since it is Thy fatherly will that 
I am to bear so protracted a sickness and cross, 
grant nnto me Christian patience and constant 
hope. I know Thou art my constant and beloved 
Father, both in days of adversity and prosperity. 
I know it behooves all true Christians to endure 
tribulation and to bear their cross ; why then should 
I desire to be exempt? And did not Jesus Christ, 
my Head and my Savior, have to suffer for me? 
O my God and benevolent Father, keep me true to 
Thy word and let it ever be my best cordial and 
comfort. Amen. 

2 
AT TWO O'CLOCK 

O DEAREST LORD JESUS, My faithful Medi- 
ator and Savior, full well d'o I know, that I have 
richly deserved this bodily infirmity and my other 
afflictions. But I take comfort in Thy inexhaust- 



ible grace and precious atonement, whereby Thou 
hast redeemed me, body and soul. May my body 
fare as it will, I am fully convinced that my body 
and soul, placed beyond the power of hell, shall at- 
tain to eternal life and be endowed with the glory 
and health of heaven. To this end, O Lord Jesus, 
grant me Thine aid. Amen 

3 
AT THREE O'CLOCK 

O HOLY SPIRIT, Thou dearest friend of my 
soul and most truthful witness of my heritage to 
heaven, and my eternal salvation. I humbly pray 
Thee, continue to dwell in my heart throughout 
my protracted sickness and strengthen me with 
Thy divine comfort, that I may remain steadfast 
in Thy pure word and the most venerable sacra- 
ments. Preserve in me faith, love and hope, these 
three pillars of my Christian life, and reveal to 
me, in its fullness, God's paternal pleasure towards 
me, to the end that I may quietly submit, being 
Thine in life and death. Amen. 

4 
AT FOUR O'CLOCK 

O THOU Faithful God, teach me to number my 
days, and I shall guard against sin. Grant unto 



97 

me a happy death; acquit me on the day of judg- 
ment; preserve me from damnation; take me into 
life everlasting. Even in death I shall lie down 
and sleep in peace. On the final day help me to 
escape hell and to enter heaven. Let my heart re- 
ceive the seeds of the divine word, keep them and 
take comfort from them, until Thou shalt come 
and take me unto Thyself. Amen. 

5 
AT FIVE O'CLOCK 

O DEAKEST JESUS, Where else shall I find 
refuge in my pain and tribulation but in Thy holy 
five wounds! That will be my safest place of ref- 
uge, when I shall sink into unconsciousness. I 
abide in Thee: do Thou also abide in me. Pro- 
vide the lamp of my heart with the oil of true 
faith, and prepare me by a Christian repentance 
to meet Thee with joy at Thy coming, and to par- 
ticipate in the joys of the eternal wedding feast, 
together with all the elect. Amen. 

6 
AT SIX O'CLOCK 

O MY DEAE GOD And Father, I thank Thee 
that Thou hast created me in Thy image, and hast 
given me a human body and a rational mind, and 



I pray Thee, Thou wouldest not forsake me, Thy 
creature, in my present distress, but care for me 
as a father and rescue me by Thy power. My trib- 
ulation is grievous and each day has a burden of 
its own, but I know Thou wilt finally deliver me 
from all evil. In Thee, O Lord, do I hope; let me 
never be confounded. Amen 

7 
AT SEVEN O'CLOCK 

O GOD, My heavenly Father, Thou didst rest on 
the seventh day of creation, do Thou rest also in 
my heart and keep Thy Sabbath in it, Thou, the 
only rest and comfort of my soul. O Lord Jesus, 
let the seventh and last word spoken by Thee on 
the cross, also be my last utterance when in travail 
of death, that I may commend my spirit to Thee, 
my heavenly Father. 

O HOLY SPIRIT, Thou teacher and spirit of 
prayer, enkindle in me that constant devotional 
spirit, that I may, by means of the holy Lord's 
Prayer, the seven penitential Psalms and other 
prayers and devotions, present my wants and needs 
to the Lord and be graciously heard by Him. 
Amen. 



99 



AT EIGHT O'CLOCK 

O DEAEEST LOUD JESUS, Thou who already 
on the eighth day of Thy sojourn here on earth, 
didst begin to endure pain for me and to shed Thy 
blood, grant unto me a disposition willing to en- 
dure pain in patience and to Thy glory, and glad- 
den me with the hope that Thou wilt safely keep 
my soul in the waters of great tribulation, even 
as Thou didst the eight souls in the ark of ISToah. 
Let me be among the eight groups Thou didst pro- 
nounce blessed, I being poor in spirit, patient in 
tribulation, meek toward mine enemies, hungry and 
thirsty after righteousness, charitable towards 
needy Christians, pure in heart, peaceable towards 
my neighbor, and steadfast in persecution. O may 
I, in this school of patience, advance through all 
grades to be translated finally to the blessed school 
of everlasting life, where I shall forever love and 
praise Thee, together with the Father and Holy 
Ghost. Amen. 

9 
AT NINE O'CLOCK 

O MY DEAEEST LOED JESUS, Thy suffer- 
ing, though so grievous, came to a blessed end, 
Thou being delivered through a happy death. Oh, 

LOFC. 



100 

grant the same to me, and put an end to my pro- 
tracted sufferings. For this I shall praise, extol, 
and magnify Thee. Now I know Thou wilt ever 
be mindful of me, and my hope will never be lost 
in despair. While on this earth I am a member of 
Thy Church Militant, oh, let me be and remain a 
member of Thy Church Triumphant in heaven. 
Amen. 

10 
AT TEN O'CLOCK 

O THOU Just and gracious God and Father, I 
confess with frankness and sorrow that I have not 
only been conceived and born in sin, but that I 
have also frequently transgressed Thy Holy Ten 
Commandments in thoughts, words and deeds, 
thereby fully deserving both this my temporal 
cross and also everlasting punishment. 

But since Thy most blessed Son, my faithful 
Savior Jesus Christ, has, with his precious merits 
and holy blood, fully atoned for all my sins, orig- 
inal and actual, I pray Thee on His account to be 
gracious unto me and not to add eternal punish- 
ment to my temporal chastisement. 

And so incline me by Thy Holy Spirit that I be 
separate from the great multitude of the ungodly, 
and ever strive after true faith and those good 



101 

Christian works that proceed therefrom. Especial- 
ly do Thou grant that I be patient in tribulation, 
fight a good fight, keep the faith and a good con- 
science and at last live in Thy tabernacle eternally. 
Grant relief to me in my sufferings, if it be Thy 
holy will, and so lighten my cross that I may bear 
it. 

11 
AT ELEVEN O'CLOCK 

O THOU Faithful Lord Jesus, who hast after 
Thy resurrection often and powerfully comforted 
Thy sorrowing disciples, and dost kindly ask all the 
weary and heavy-laden to come unto thee, promis- 
ing to give them rest: oh, come also unto me in 
my sickness, comfort and refresh me, Thou my 
only refuge, comfort, and support. I yearn for 
the repose of a happy death, and have a desire for 
the joyous resurrection of my body. Oh, let me 
experience both, the sooner the better, and I will 
forever praise Thee, with the Father and Holy 
Ghost. Amen. 

12 
AT TWELVE O'CLOCK 

O DEAKEST LOKD JESUS, I vender Thee 
heartfelt thanks that Thou hast revealed Thyself 



102 



unto me in the writings of the holy prophets and 
apostles, to the end that I might believe on Thee 
and through faith in Thee have eternal life. I 
pray Thee to keep me steadfast in the true faith, 
that I may reach the end of faith, namely eternal 
bliss. And render Thou me watchful and well pre- 
pared, so that when Thou, my heavenly bridegroom 
dost come, I may meet Thee with joy and with 
Thee enter the heavenly bridal chamber, when I 
shall in truth love and praise Thee. Amen. 



59 

Thank Offering after Recovery 

I THANK THEE, Lord God Almighty, that, be- 
cause of my sins, Thou hast like a father visited 
and chastened me. Yea, Lord, it is good for me 
that Thou hast humbled me, that I may learn Thy 
ways. O my God, like king Hezekiah, I, too, have 
often thought: Mine age is departed, and is re- 
moved from me as a shepherd's tent; I have cut 
off like a weaver my life; he will cut off with pin- 
ing sickness; from day even to night wilt Thou 
make an end of me. But I see my God, that my 
sickness was not unto death, but to the glory of 
God, in order that Thou my Lord Jesus Christ, be. 



103 



magnified thereby. 

For Thou hast been merciful unto me, and hast 
made rich provisions for my soul. 

All my sins Thou didst cast behind Thee, and 
my life Thou didst prolong. How well Thou didst 
remove my sickness, and how graciously Thou didst 
help me. I render thanks unto Thee, yea, I thank 
Thee from the inmost of my heart, that Thou hast 
strengthened and restored me, so that I can again 
behold Thy holy temple, go my way, and attend to 
my occupation. 

It is Thy goodness, O Lord, that has prolonged 
my days. O how often I shall recall Thy chasten- 
ing rod, and be on my guard all the days of life, 
lest I incur Thy wrath. 

Help me now, O Lord my God, to begin a new 
life with my renewed state of health. 

Grant that I may at all times magnify Thy 
name, and let Thy praise evermore be in my 
mouth. Guide me by Thy Holy Spirit, that I may 
live to thy honor, and not yield my members as in- 
struments of unrighteousness to serve sin, but as 
instruments of righteousness to serve Thee, my 
God. And I shall in Thy congregation sing songs 
of praise and glory to Thee all the days of my life. 
Amen. 



104 

60 

Three Prayers in the Hour of Death 
A Prayer to God the Father 

O GOD ALMIGHTY, Thou Father of mercy 
and God of all comfort, have mercy on me as a 
father has mercy on his children. Remember that 
Thy dear Son, Jesus Christ, became man for my 
sake. Remember Thou didst so love the world, that 
Thou gavest Thine only begotten Son, that who- 
soever believeth in Him should not perish, but 
have everlasting life. 

In this faith my soul cometh to Thee, bringing 
with it Thy dear Son, Jesus Christ, whom Thou 
hast given me. For His sake remember me and re- 
ceive me into Thy grace. To Thee do I commend 
my soul. Let me, Thy dear child, forever, remain 
in Thy grace and show Thou mercy unto me, while 
I live and when I die; for the sake of Thy dear 
Son, our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen. 

2 

A Prayer to God the Son 

O LORD JESUS CHRIST, my only comfort 
and my only help, Thou hast borne my sickness and 
wast wounded for my iniquity. Thou art the Lamb 



105 

of God that takest away the sins of the world. 

Be Thou my righteousness, my sanctification, 
and my redemption. Heal my wounds with Thy 
stripes. Let Thy innocent blood not be shed in 
vain for me, and take not Thy Holy Spirit from 
me. 

Do not forsake me in the hour of death, but 
help me through it to life eternal. 

Remember that I am Thy frail sheep and Thou 
my faithful shepherd. Take me upon Thine arms 
and bear me into Thy paradise of bliss. 

Let me behold the joy of Thy countenance and 
Thy glory. Amen. 

3 

A Prayer to God the Holy Ghost 

O GOD THE HOLY GHOST, Thou only com- 
fort of the distressed, strengthen and comfort my 
fainting and sorrowful heart. Preserve the faith 
Thou dost kindle in my heart and quench not the 
smoking flax. Guard me from the attacks of the 
evil one. 

Let not my heart tremble nor despair at the 
sight of death; restrain my impatience, and make 
me inclined to yield to Thy will, O God, my Lord. 
Help me bring my life to a happy and joyful close. 
Keep my heart and mind in the peace of my Lord 



106 

Jesus Christ. And when I am no longer able to 
speak, then preserve and seal the memory of the 
holy name of Jesus Christ in my heart; and with 
it let me fall asleep in peace. Amen. 



61 

A Prayer of Those Present for a Person in the 
Agonies of Death 

O ALMIGHTY And benignant God, who art our 
stay and staff in the shadow of death, we pray Thee 
to visit this sick person, his body and soul, with 
Thy mercy, and graciously to forgive all his sins. 
Take the sacrifice of the innocent death of Jesus 
Christ, Thy dear Son, as payment for his trans- 
gressions, since he was baptized in Christ's name 
and cleansed by His blood. Therefore, deliver him. 
we pray Thee, from bodily pains or shorten them; 
sustain him against the accusations of conscience 
and all attacks of the wicked one, that he may fight 
a good fight and overcome. Grant him a blessed 
departure for the life everlasting, send Thy holy 
angels that they escort him to the gathering of 
the elect in Christ Jesus, our Lord. Amen. 



107 

62 



Another Prayer 

LORD, Eow lettest Thou Thy servant depart in 
peace, according to Thy word: for mine eyes have 
seen Thy salvation, which Thou hast prepared be- 
fore the face of all people; a light to lighten the 
Gentiles, and the glory of Thy people Israel. Glory 
be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy 
Ghost, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever 
shall be, world wihout end. Amen. 



63 

A Short Litany together with Prayers for a 
Dying Person 

Lord, have mercy, Christ, have mercy! 

Lord, have mercy upon this sick person! 

Lord God Father in heaven, 

Lord God Son, Redeemer of the world, 

Lord God Holy Ghost, 

Holy Trinity, eternal God, 

Have mercy upon him! 



108 



Lord, be merciful and save this dying person! 

From the evil spirit, 

From the cunning and crafts of the devil, 

From all ills, 

From the pains of hell, 

Preserve him, dear Lord God! 
By Thy holy incarnation and birth; 
By Thine agony of death and bloody sweat; 
By Thy cross and bitter death; 
By Thy holy resurrection and ascension; 
By the grace of the Holy Ghost; 
At his last end; 
At the last day; 
At the last judgment; 

Help him, dear Lord God. 
We poor sinners beseech Thee to hear us, good 

Lord, 
And comfort this sick person; 
Pardon all his sins; 

And give him life eternal after this misery; 
We beseech Thee, to hear us, good Lord ! 
O Christ hear us! 
O Thou Lamb of God that hath taken away the 

sins of the world, have mercy upon this 

dying person and give him eternal peace! 
O Lord, have mercy! 
O Christ, have mercy! 
Lord, have mercy upon him! 



109 



OUR FATHER, Who art in heaven; hallowed be 
Thy name; Thy kingdom come; Thy will be done 
on earth, as it is in heaven; give us this day our 
daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses, as we 
forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us 
not into temptation; but deliver us from evil; for 
Thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, 
forever and ever. Amen! 



Prayer 

ALMIGHTY, ETERNAL GOD, Heavenly Fa- 
ther, comfort and strengthen this Thy creature, 
and save him (her) through Thy goodness; deliver 
him (her) from all anguish and distress; release 
him (her) in Thy grace, and take him (her) unto 
Thee in Thy kingdom, through Jesus Christ, Thy 
dear Son; our only Lord, Savior and Redeemer. 
Amen. 



Another Prayer 

ALMIGHTY, ETERNAL GOD, Have compas- 
sion on the anxious sighs and groanings of this dy- 
ing person, receive him (her) into Thy kingdom, 
that Thou hast in mercy prepared for him (her) 



110 



and all believers from the beginning of the world. 
Graciously release him (her), O Lord, and comfort 
him (her) eternally with the elect; through Thy 
dear Son, our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen. 



64 

A Prayer after the Patient has Departed in 
the Lord 

THANKS And praise be rendered now and for- 
evermore to Christ Jesus, Lord of glory and Prince 
of life, for having so graciously delivered this 
sainted brother (sister), and received his (her) 
soul into His holy hands. We pray Him to re- 
unite the soul with the body in heavenly bright- 
ness on the last day, and to grant unto us a godly 
walk and an equally happy departure at the time 
appointed of God. Restore, O Lord, all distressed 
hearts with sweet comfort and keep all of us per- 
petually in Thy grace for the sake of Thy eternal 
mercy and goodness. Amen, O Thou most holy and 
exalted Trinity. Amen! Amen! 



Ill 



Appendix I. 



PRAYERS FOR THE FESTIVAL DAYS 



Prayer at Beginning of a New Church Year 

O THOU Eternal God and faithful Father, up- 
on entering a new church year we render Thee 
humble thanks above all for all the spiritual bene- 
fits received at Thy hands during the past year. 
Thou hast suffered us to retain Thy holy word and 
the public preaching thereof, together with the 
Holy Sacraments, while we by our ingratitude have 
fully deserved that we should be deprived of such 
blessings; for we are no better and have sinned no 
less against Thee than many of our brethren at 
other places, from whom, in Thy just judgment, 
Thou hast either wholly withdrawn the word and 
preaching of Thy gospel or greatly curtailed it. 
And it appears that also at many other places Thou 
art about to remove the light of Thy word in pur- 
suance of Thy judgment. O Lord, we are not at 
all worthy of all the mercies Thou hast shown unto 



112 

us, Thine unprofitable servants, treating us, to this 
day, with such longsuffering. We now pray Thee, 
forgive all our sins wherewith in the past church 
' year we have transgressed against Thee, either by 
doing what was wrong, or by failing to do what 
was right. As the first mark of Thy grace, cancel, 
we pray Thee, our sins of the past church year 
with the blood of Thy dear Son, and in order to 
render us worthy of this grace, engender in our 
hearts true repentance, so that we do not carry 
any unf orgiven sins over into the new church year, 
sins that we are not by Thy power willing entire- 
ly to abandon. Preserve unto us, also in the fu- 
ture, Thy holy Word and Sacraments, and thus the 
kingdom of Thy Son, and do not suffer the enemy 
to deprive us of this great blessing and to extend 
his kingdom of darkness among us. And in this 
do not look upon any worthiness of ours, but rather 
upon this that the honor of Thy Son be not blas- 
phemed by the enemies, who fancy to have wrecked 
Thy kingdom among us. Preserve all our faithful 
teachers and preachers, whom Thou hast given us 
and bestow upon them in this church year new light 
and the power of Thy Holy Spirit, that they may 
in Thy presence and power proclaim to us Thy 
word in its truth and purity, without the adultera- 
tion of anything human. Grant also to them at all 
times wisdom and insight rightly to determine 



113 

what is most necessary to be discussed in public 
discourse. 

Do Thou, therefore, not suffer them to speak 
what they please, but do Thou guide their tongues 
and hearts to speak at all times, what is pleasing 
unto Thee. Give efficacy to Thy word and to Thy 
holy Sacraments that also in this church year we 
may behold in them the blessed means of our sal- 
vation, which saves our souls. Confirm anew the 
good Thou didst already in the past year effect in 
the hearts of Thy people, quickening Thy Word in 
them, and let this word continue to show its effi- 
cacy in instructing the simple, in converting the 
unregenerate, in convincing the malicious, in 
strengthening the souls that already know Thee, 
the number of which Thou wouldst, we pray Thee, 
increase also this year, according to Thy good 
pleasure. Grant also to all hearers of Thy word, 
that they receive it from the mouths of their min- 
isters with attention and meekness not only, but 
that they, when hearing the word at all times sub- 
mit their hearts to you in such quietness and meek- 
ness as will permit the Holy Spirit to accomplish 
the work of faith in them, to the end that all live 
a life before Thee in this church year more holy 
than formerly. Especially do Thou grant grace, 
that a firm foundation of the knowledge of the 
truth be laid among us, so that it may become a 



114 



living knowledge, which praises Thee by its fruits 
and we come to know in very deed that this is life 
eternal, that Thou, Father, art the only true God 
and whom Thou hast sent is Jesus Christ, life ever- 
lasting. Amen. 



Prayer for the Advent Season 

O THOU LOKD Of glory and God over all 
blessed forever, to Thee I render heartfelt thanks, 
both for all Thy great and unspeakable blessings, 
and also for this that out of love beyond measure 
Thou didst descend to us poor mortals in this vale 
of tears from the throne of Thy divine majesty, in 
order to preserve us lost and condemned sinners 
from the pit that hath no water. I praise Thee, O 
Jesus, Thou king of glory, with all my strength and 
energies, that Thou didst come upon this earth 
only to this end to deliver us from our enemies, 
from sin, death, hell and the devil, and with Thy 
holy blood to effect an eternal reconciliation be- 
tween Thy heavenly Father and us, and by Thy 
precious merits to regain for us our lost righteous- 
ness. Hosanna, O Lord, save now, O Lord, send 
now prosperity! Amen. 



115 



A Christmas Prayer 

O MEKCIFUL, Eternal God, heavenly Father 
we, Thy children thank Thee from the inmost of 
our hearts, that Thou hast so faithfully kept Thy 
promise and didst turn to us Thy heart of fatherly 
love, in sending to us the highest Good, Thine only 
begotten Son, for our Savior, and making us ac- 
ceptable in Thy Beloved. 

O Christ Jesus, Thou eternal Son of God, we 
honor, praise and magnify Thee, that Thou on this 
festal day didst become our brother and Emman- 
uel, that is, God with us; that out of unspeakable 
love, Thou hast befriended us and clothed Thyself 
with the garb of our flesh and blood. In no wise 
didst Thou assume the nature of angels, but the 
seed of Abraham, our human nature, that is but 
earth and ashes and dust, Thou didst so honor as 
to unite Thyself with it personally, inseparably and 
eternally. Thou wast conceived without sin and 
born into this world by a pure and chaste virgin; 
thus Thou didst sanctify and consecrate our sinful 
and impure conception and birth, that it may not 
be harmful to us, we being by nature the children 
of wrath, conceived in sin, and flesh born of flesh. 
Thou wast born in a stable and didst lie in the 



116 

manger on straw in abject poverty and Thou 
didst not take offense, so that, having enriched our 
souls, Thou couldst make us great lords in Thy 
heavenly mansion. Thou hast humiliated Thyself 
in order to exalt us; Thou didst come down upon 
this earth, that we might go up to Thee in heaven. 
GOD, The Holy Ghost, our highest teacher 
and comforter, we to-day offer Thee the sacrifice of 
our lips, heartily thanking Thee that Thou hast 
revealed unto us this great "mystery of godliness".; 
and as the angels proclaimed and chanted it to the 
shepherds on the field, even so dost Thou proclaim 
it to us through Thy Word and Thy servants. 
Glory be to Thee, O God, Father, Son and Holy 
Ghost, in the highest, peace on earth and good 
will towards men. Grant, O faithful God and Fa- 
ther that sharing in the benefits of the human 
birth of Thy dear Son and delivered from the evil 
results of our sinful birth, we may be and remain 
newborn children of Thy grace and heirs of Thy 
kingdom. 

O dearest Jesus mine, 

Do Thou in my heart's shrine, 

As on a bed incline, 

That I be ever Thine. 
Do Thou, O God the Holy Ghost, bring it about 
that this our Savior be spiritually born and grow 
in us at present and ever after. Help us also to 



117 



rejoice over this birth and find comfort in it amidst 
all temptations, to suffer all things patiently and to 
gain the victory, so that we may honor, praise and 
glorify Thee with all the angels of God, here in 
time and hereafter in eternity. Amen. 



A Prayer on New Year's Day 

WE HAVE Again, O Triune God, by Thy grace 
arrived at the end of another year of our frail life 
and wearisome pilgrimage on earth, and we to-day 
in Thy name begin a new year. O Lord, how un- 
speakably great is Thy goodness, how innumerable 
the many blessings Thou hast shown unto me and 
mine in time past, though we have not deserved 
aught but Thy wrath and punishment because of 
our sins. In Thy holy Church Thou hast preserved 
Thy precious Word and Sacraments; in the govern- 
ment, peace and concord in matters material Thou 
hast bestowed Thy blessing and prosperity, and 
hast favored body and soul abundantly with every 
manner of blessing. Owing to Thy paternal care, 
Thy Church has been preserved from false doc- 
trine and persecution on account of the true faith, 
our country was not invaded by an enemy, nor de- 



118 

vastated by a plague; our homes were not exposed 
to perils of fire or flood, in short no dire calamity 
was permitted to overtake us, thanks to Thy faith- 
ful providence. How am I to find words adequate 
for Thy praise? How can I properly show my 
gratitude? Behold, O Lord, at the close of the old 
year I offer unto Thee the sacrifice of my lips, and 
glorify Thy grace and mercy with all my strength 
and powers. My soul shall honor Thee, my spirit 
must praise Thee, my mouth shall thank Thee, and 
all that is within me shall proclaim Thy glory. I 
prostrate myself before Thee in penitence, and, 
with a contrite heart, I confess unto Thee all my 
sins — those I was conceived and born in and those 
with which I offended Thee, not only during the 
past year, but also all the days of my life. 

Dearest Father, do Thou not count these old sins 
against me to my damnation, and do not in Thy 
wrath remember my former transgressions, but 
graciously forgive and forget them because of the 
wounds of Thy most dearly beloved Son. O Jesus, 
my precious Savior, be merciful unto me a sinner, 
and, by virtue of Thy merits, remove like mist all 
my transgressions, cast them into the sea of Thine 
innocent blood, that they may never again come to 
light or before the judgment of God. O God, Holy 
Spirit, do Thou renew me as to the inner man, that 
I may not take any old sin or impurity over into 



119 

the new year, but that I may to-^ay begin a new 
life and partake anew of Thy grace. Thou Tri- 
une God, do Thou remit all punishments — though 
well deserved — for former sins, and continue to 
bless me and mine with all spiritual and temporal 
blessings and in gifts earthly and heavenly. Let 
Thy grace rise anew over us every morning, and 
do good unto all that in this new year take refuge 
with Thee and wait upon Thy goodness. Preserve 
unto us Thy precious word, which is our heart's 
joy and comfort. Enlighten our teachers and min- 
isters, and grant Thine increase from heaven to 
their sacred labors. Strengthen our faithful rulers, 
and prosper them in such purposes as are good and 
well-pleasing to Thee. Bless the parents, and let 
the work of their hands prosper. Fill our souls 
with fear of God, and grant to our hearts the joy 
in the Holy Ghost. Bestow health upon our bodies 
and peace within our borders. Crown this year 
with Thy goodness, and give unto us the neces- 
saries of life. Preserve Thy Church from error 
in doctrine and life; our country from war, fam- 
ine, and pestilence; our homes from devouring 
flames and all damage and danger; the fruits of the 
field from hail and tempest. Curb the wrath and 
fury of Satan, and send Thy heavenly hosts to pro- 
tect and guard us in all our ways. Convert our 
enemies, restrain all persecutors, succor the op- 



120 

pressed, provide for the poor, feed the hungry, give 
drink to the thirsty, clothe the naked, liberate 
those wrongly imprisoned, comfort the unhappy, 
gladden the sorrowing, strengthen the weak, care 
for the sick, have mercy upon the widows and or- 
phans, rescue the oppressed, guide those travelling, 
and accompany the dyirg from death into life. 
Lord, teach us to do according to Thy good pleas- 
ure, and Thy good Spirit lead us on an even path, 
so that we may walk before Thee in faith, patience, 
and hope, in godliness, honesty, and forbearance, in 
meekness, chastity and all Christian virtues, and 
when we commit sin, chasten us like a father; 
when our sins cause us anxiety, comfort us with 
Thy grace, and Thy joyful Spirit uphold us. When 
Satan attacks us, stand by us; when the world per- 
secutes us, take us into Thy protection; when flesh 
and blood would overpower us, strengthen us in 
spirit; when we err, bring us back to the truth. 
When we fall, raise us by Thy hand. When we be- 
come weak and weary in our duties, refresh us. 
When we are in distress and danger, deliver us. 
When we are sick and weary, be Thou our physi- 
cian. If, according to Thy will, we are to go hence 
during this year, we commend our souls into Thy 
hands. Oh Lord! hear us, O Lord! have mercy, O 
Lord, give ear unto us and bring it to pass for 
Jesus Christ's sake. Amen. 



121 



Prayer on Epiphany 

O DEAEEST LOKD JESUS, Thou hast in ev- 
ery deed shown Thyself the God of the Gentiles 
and the Jews, and being the true light for all men 
that come into this world, Thou wouldest illumine 
all men unto life eternal. For not only didst Thou, 
through the guidance of that wonderful star, lead 
unto Thyself the wise men of the East, that they 
must honor and adore Thee as their king, but 
Thou hast brought us poor heathen into Thy king- 
dom of grace and to the saving knowledge of Thy- 
self, by means of the enlightening power of Thy 
divine Word. O my Savior, Thy faithfulness and 
grace shown to us is so great that we can never 
sufficiently thank Thee. We were without God, 
strangers and outside the commonwealth of Israel; 
but Thou hast made us, Thy people, fellow-citizens 
with the saints and of God's household. We were 
altogether too blind to know Thee and to find: the 
way to life eternal, but Thou, O Lord Jesus, hast 
opened the eyes of our mind, and hast made us rich 
in all knowledge. We sat in darkness and in the 
shadow of death, but Thou didst cause Thy glory 
to shine upon us, so that we are now walking in 
Thy light and may in time enter eternal bliss in 



122 



heaven. For this we justly laud and praise Thee 
with thankful hearts and tongues, on this sacred 
day; and we shall sing Thy grace and goodness as 
long as we have our breath. We furthermore pray 
Thee, O most faithful Kedeemer, cause Thy grace 
to abound in us, keep us and our descendants in 
the blessed knowledge of Thyself to the end of 
time, and so guide and lead us by Thy Holy Spirit 
that we no longer, like the heathen, walk in the 
vanity of our minds and according to our own 
lusts, but rather lead a godly life, as the children 
of life, and serve Thee in due obedience as our 
king all the days of our life. And since Thou, O 
dearest Jesus, didst so powerfully deliver us from 
the kingdom of darkness and didst so mercifully 
receive us unto Thy kingdom of grace, let us also 
be and remain blessed citizens of Thy kingdom of 
joy and honor in heaven and heirs of Thy eternal 
glory, for Thine exalted name's sake. Amen. 



6 

Prayer on the Day of Purification 

O LOED JESUS, Thou exalted and beloved Son 
of God, I thank Thee with all my heart that Thou 
didst not only become a true man in my behalf, 



123 

but didst also place Thyself under the law for my 
sake, and at Thy presentation didst have the of- 
fering of purification presented for Thee, in order 
that I might be redeemed from the curse of the 
law and my soul cleansed from its base impurities. 
For this I acknowledge myself in duty bound to 
present myself to Thee as a living sacrifice, holy 
and acceptable to God. But since I cannot do this 
of myself, I pray Thee, dearest Savior, do Thou 
sanctify me by the Holy Ghost and Thy innocent 
blood, that I may henceforth earnestly guard 
against all manner of sin, keep my body and soul 
unspotted and serve Thee in holiness and righteous- 
ness all the days of my life. O dearest Jesus, grant 
that I, following the example of godly Simeon, 
may embrace Thee with the arms of true faith in 
all days of trouble and distress, in every fear and 
anguish of conscience; that I may press Thee to 
my heart, yea enclose Thee in it and nevermore let 
Thee go hence. Let mine eyes ever be directed to- 
wards Thee, Thou welcome Light of the world, and 
see in Thee their only joy. Kindle within me the 
light of the knowledge of Thy holy will and a 
hearty confidence in Thy precious merits, and grant 
that I may cause this to shine forth before men 
by my good works. O Thou brightness of glory 
dispel all darkness of ignorance and malice from 
my mind, and let me believe aright, live holy and 



124 



die happy, as did Simeon of old. And when the end 
of my life draws nigh, O blessed Redeemer, hold 
me safe in Thine arms of love and grace, that 
Satan may not snatch me out of them. Grant unto 
me with Simeon a joyful departure, and bestow 
this grace upon Thy servant, that I may in peace 
leave earth and enter heaven, and with all the 
elect, behold Thee face to face, in everlasting joy. 
Amen. 



Prayer on Day of Annunciation 

Awake, my soul, and rejoice in the Lord Thy 
Savior; magnify the Highest, who has so faithfully 
fulfilled his promise and sent His Son into the 
world. Exult and be glad, for God Himself, out of 
love to thee, became man and thy next kinsman. 
Who can sufficiently praise His mercy and loving 
kindness? O Lord, what is man that Thou art 
mindful of him, and the son of man that Thou 
considerest him? O dearest Jesus, I heartily thank 
Thee that in the hallowed womb of Thy mother, 
Mary, Thou didst so intimately unite Thyself with 
our human nature, and in this assumed humanity 
didst reconcile us with Thy heavenly Father. O 



125 



my Savior, Thou didst thus humble and humiliate 
Thyself, that I might be exalted; Thou didst be- 
come a human being, that I might become a child 
of God, Thy brother (sister) and beloved bride. 
Thou hast descended to us from Thy throne above 
to have me participate in Thy great glory in 
heaven. How couldst Thou have shown greater 
love to me? O dearest Jesus, I heartily rejoice in 
this and know for certain that I am in Thy grace; 
for Thou canst not hate Thine own flesh and blood, 
nor be wroth at it. Though I am sinful and unholy, 
I take comfort in Thy holiness and innocence. 
Though I have incensed God with my sins, I know 
that Thou art the Mediator between God and me, 
that Thou wilt appease His wrath, and wilt save 
me from all ills that threaten me because of my 
transgressions. O Jesus, my brother, although I 
have deserved death and damnation, Thou art able 
to give me life and salvation. Where my Brother, 
my flesh and blood, reigns, I too hope to be and 
remain eternally. To this end, dearly beloved 
Savior, lend us Thine aid, for the sake of Thy most 
holy incarnation. Amen. 



126 



Prayer on Maundy-Thursday 

O DEAKEST JESUS, I thank Thee with aU my 
heart in the council of the godly and the congre- 
gation of the Lord, that before entering death 
Thou has remembered us, Thy Christians, so well, 
in spreading before us so bounteous a table for our 
souls. I magnify Thee, most merciful Savior, with 
all my capabilities and energies, that Thou didst 
not only give Thyself a sacrifice for my sins and 
the sins of the whole world, dying on the cross, but 
that Thou dost also nourish us poor mortals with 
Thy body and blood in Holy Communion, thereby 
appropriating unto us all those gifts of grace and 
the benefits Thou didst acquire. O Lord, the 
bread which we break is the communion of Thy 
body given for us on the cross; and the wine we 
drink at Thy altar is the communion of Thy pre- 
cious blood, shed for us throughout all Thy painful 
sufferings. In what manner indeed have we de- 
served to receive such great proofs of Thy good- 
ness? Who are we that Thou dost draw so nigh to 
us by uniting with us so closely that Thou art and 
ever wilt remain in us and we in Thee, as members 
of Thy body. What return can we make to Thee 
for taking so deep an interest in our souls, cleans- 



127 

ing them from all transgressions and consequent 
condemnation and applying to them Thy perfect 
obedience, merits and righteouness, yea giving 
Thine own self as a pledge of their salvation. O 
dearest Jesus, even as Thou didst in the Holy Sup- 
per establish a memorial of Thy wonderful gifts to 
us, so this Sacrament shall be a constant memorial 
in my heart of Thy love and mercy. As oft as I 
shall eat of this bread and drink of this cup, I will 
proclaim Thy death, and tell in thankful strains 
what Thou hast done for me. Oh grant, my Re- 
deemer and Savior, that by means of this blessed 
food and drink I may be strengthened more and 
more in my faith, be joined to Thee inseparably, 
gain strength for a godly life upon earth, and be 
positively assured of the eternal life of joy in 
heaven ; all for the sake of Thy holy merits. Amen. 

9 

Prayer on Good Friday 

O LOED JESUS CHEIST, Thou innocent and 
spotless Lamb of God, who hast suffered the igno- 
minious death on the cross for us, and wouldst have 
us ever be mindful of this : we again, from the in- 
most of our hearts, thank, praise, and magnify 
Thee, that Thou hast redeemed us poor sinners by 



128 

the price of Thy holy sufferings and death, and 
wast obedient to Thy heavenly Father even unto 
the death on the cross. Thou didst also shed Thy 
precious blood to wash away and blot out our sins, 
and didst give Thy life for us, that we might be 
safe from eternal death. O faithful Savior, how- 
much Thou hast suffered for us! What unspeak- 
able torture and pain Thou didst endure in body 
and soul, that we might be exempt therefrom for- 
ever. Oh, Lord Jesus, Thou patient Lamb of God 
which takest away the sins of the whole world, we 
confess that we have caused Thee all this labor 
and Thy death with our manifold and grievous 
sins. Be gracious and merciful unto us, and let 
not Thy bitter and painful sufferings and death be 
in vain for us. Grant us grace that we may be 
mindful of this all our days, heartily promise and 
thank Thee for the same, and that by the contem- 
plation of Thy pains and crucifixion we may cru- 
cify and mortify all fleshly lusts and evil desires 
of our corrupt flesh. And because Thou hast sui- 
fered for us, grant that we take up our cross, which 
we daily and richly deserve with our sins, and fol- 
low after Thee. For Thy name's sake, may we pa- 
tiently endure all things, and in the blessed here- 
after be and forever remain with Thee and all 
Thine elect in heavenly joy and bliss. Amen. 



129 
10 

Prayer on Eastertide 

WE EENDEK Thanks unto Thee, O Lord Jesus 
Christ, Thou exalted Prince of Life, that Thou 
didst give Thyself for us into death, out of divine 
love, and didst offer Thyself to Thy heavenly Fa- 
ther as a propitiation for our sins, thereby deliver- 
ing us from the power of death, devil, and eternal 
damnation. In proof whereof Thou, the Prince of 
Life and the Lord over death, didst raise Thy head 
on the third day, rise from the dead, and didst 
bring forth righteousness, innocence and eternal 
life. We pray Thee, grant us grace, that, by the 
working of Thy Holy Spirit in us, we may take 
deep-felt joy and comfort in Thy death and resur- 
rection, thereby quiet our conscience and overcome 
all fear of death. And let Thy resurrection be to 
us a cause and incentive to good works and fruits 
of righteousness, that we, as Thy people, may be 
willing to worship Thee in the beauty of holiness. 
Grant that we may daily die unto sin, crucify and 
slay the old Adam with his lucts and desires; that, 
on the other hand, we may arise spiritually, begin 
to live in righteousness, walk in a new life, purge 
out the old leaven, and become a new leaven. Grant 
furthermore, we beseech Thee, that we may look 



130 

forward with comfort and joy to the resurrection 
of our deceased bodies, which on the last day shall 
come forth again by virtue of Thy resurrection, 
and may we then with body and soul enter Thy 
kingdom of heavenly glory *and grandeur. Amen. 



11 

Prayer on Ascension Day 

O LOKD JESUS CHEIST, Thou eternal High 
Priest and King of all thrones, Thou didst upon 
finishing on earth all that was written concerning 
Thee, enter the heaven of glory in and according 
to Thine exalted human nature, and didst sit down 
at the right hand of God on the throne of majesty; 
still Thou art everywhere and Thy kingdom reigns 
supreme. But we are still pilgrims in this vale 
of tears, in a world that lies in wickedness and 
which Thou didst overcome, as Thou hast said. 
Where now is the way that takes us safely through 
to Thee? How shall we, O Lord, find this way. 
unless Thou, by Thy Spirit, dost teach us and by 
Him dost lead us on this way and keep us thereon ? 

O Lord, this world passes away with its lust and 
all its brightest glory is as transient as the day 
that was yesterday. Besides, our stay in this world 



131 

lasts but a few days, and these pass by more rap- 
idly than the water current. Oh, lead us on the 
way to heaven, to Thy glory, where we shall be 
with Thee forever. Behold we die one by one and 
we pass away like a shadow. But we are prone to 
take it lightly; each one walks in his own way, as 
it seems right to him. Do Thou render our heart 
certain, that we walk upon none other road than 
the one that leads to Thee and to Thine imperish- 
able glory. 

O Lord, Thou dost sit at the right hand of maj- 
esty in heaven, to save us for ever and to make us 
happy in Thy kingdom. Be Thou mindful of this 
even when we are not mindful of ourselves, save 
us mightily by Thy power, and give us heavenly 
bliss, not for our sakes, but for Thine own sake. 
For the kingdom we are to inherit is Thine ; Thine 
is the power to lead us into it ; and Thine shall for- 
ever be all honor and glory, when we, Thy redeem- 
ed, shall be happy in Thy kingdom. Amen. Hear 
us, for the sake of Thine eternal love and mercy. 
Amen. 



132 
12 

Prayer on Day of Pentecost 

O LOKD GOD, Who didst on the day of holy 
Pentecost visit and endow the hearts of Thy faith- 
ful so graciously and richly, do Thou pour this 
same Spirit of Thine like a fruitful rain upon our 
dry and famished hearts, refresh Thy heritage and 
comfort the miserable. Come, O Holy Spirit, and 
grace us with Thy manifold gifts, that we may 
truly know and extol the great deeds of God done 
through Christ Jesus, that also we may speak, 
praise, and spread Thy word with new tongues. 
Enkindle us with the fire of Thy benign fervor, 
burn out all internal vileness, together with all 
fleshly lusts and desires. And in order that we may 
serve our God with true earnestness and zeal, in 
fervency of faith and spirit, illumine us with the 
light of Thy truth. 

O Thou God of peace, unite our hearts with the 
bond of peace, that we may live with each other in 
peace and unity, in humility and meekness. O 
Thou, God of patience, give us patience for the 
time of our sojourn, and perseverance unto the 
end. 

O Thou, Spirit of prayer, awaken our hearts, 
that we may lift them and also holy hands up to 



133 



God, calling upon Him in every trouble. And since 
we do not know what we should pray for as we 
ought, do Thou, O faithful Intercessor, make inter- 
cession for us with groanings which cannot be 
uttered. O Thou, gentle wind, do Thou cool and 
refresh our hearts when in fiery trials, be our pro- 
tection and shelter in the day of trouble, our help 
in distress, and our comfort in reverses. 

O THOU MIGHTY GOD, Come with Thy com- 
fort to the weak, teach the wretched Thy way, help 
the fallen, guide the erring and hold them with 
Thy right hand. O Thou eternal Light, our Sal- 
vation and comfort, come and be our light in dark- 
ness, our salvation in life, our comfort in death, 
and lead us on an even path to life everlasting, that 
we may praise Thee, Holy Spirit, together with 
our heavenly Father and His beloved Son, our only 
Savior, and magnify Thee with new tongues on 
that true Pentecostal day above for ever and ever. 
Amen. 



13 

Prayer on the Festival of Holy Trinity 

O THOU Incomprehensible, eternal God, Thou 
King of kings and Lord of lords, who alone hast 



134 

immortality, and dost dwell in a light to which no 
one can approach: we thank Thee in humility of 
heart, that Thou hast left Thy realm of light to 
reveal Thyself to us as the One God in Three Per- 
sons. But since this deep mystery of the Holy 
Trinity far transcends all our thoughts and con- 
ceptions, we pray Thee above all, to make our rea- 
son, which is wise in its own conceit, subject to 
your obedience, and do not suffer the foolishness 
of our reason to oppose Thy wisdom. And do Thou 
imprint on our hearts this living and confiding 
knowledge, that Thou art Three and One, in order 
that we may cherish this truth as a precious treas- 
ure over against all error and may, in deepest hu- 
mility, revere Thee, O Triuine God, with like 
honor, as revealed in Thy Word. 

Grant unto us, O Holy Father, to know that 
Thou dost originate from no one, but hast begot- 
ten Thy Son from eternity and dost cause the Holy 
Spirit to proceed from Thee and Him ; furthermore, 
do Thou grant us to know that Thou hast given 
Thyself unto us as our Father, so that, in childlike 
obedience and confidence, we consecrate everything 
to Thee that is Thy work in us. O Lord Jesus 
Christ, Thou eternal Son of God, do Thou reveal 
Thyself to us as having from eternity been begot- 
ten of Thy heavenly Father, the brightness of His 
glory and the image of his being, Light of Light 



135 



and very God of very God. May we realize that 
out of love to us Thou didst become our brother, 
and hast redeemed us by Thy obedience, suffering, 
and death, to the end that in Thee vre may learn 
to know the Father aright and through Thee come 
to Him, enjoying the fruits of Thy redemption, 
here in righteousness and holiness and hereafter in 
the communion of Thy glory. O Lord God Holy 
Ghost, enlighten our souls to know that Thou didst 
proceed as the essential Breath from the Father 
and the Son from eternity, true God and a true 
person, and that Thou dost labor faithfully at the 
work of our sanctification. O do Thou zealously 
continue the same by enlightening us, purging us. 
urging us to perform good deeds, comforting us 
and preserving us, so that by Thy operation we 
may, when our time comes, appear perfectly holy 
and pure before the throne of Thy glory. 

For Thine eternal majesty and glory revealed to 
us in Thy Word, for all the grace and the benefits 
Thou hast bestowed upon us, we and all Thy crea- 
tures do render unto Thee, O Holy Trinity, praise, 
honor, thanks and glory. Amen. 



136 
14 

Prayer on Day of John the Baptist 

O GKACIOUS GOD And Father in heaven, to 
Thee I render most humble thanks with heart and 
mouth, that, by giving Thy dear Son, Thou didst 
visit us so graciously, and didst raise up our Lord 
Jesus as a horn of salvation in Thy Church, to the 
end that we should grasp it in true faith, take 
comfort, joy and bliss therefrom, and make it our 
stay in trouble and death. Like thanks do I owe 
Thee, O Lord Jesus, Thou day-spring from on high, 
that Thou didst by Thine appearing so brightly il- 
lumine us, poor blind people, who sat in darkness 
and the shadow of death, and didst guide our feet 
upon the way to eternal peace. And no less do I 
thank Thee, O God, Holy Ghost, that Thou didst 
raise up Saint John as a prophet of the Most High, 
and through him hast given us + he knowledge of 
salvation, which consists in the forgiveness of sins. 
O Holy Trinity, give me grace that I may duly 
recognize these great benefits, and show my last- 
ing gratitude to Thee not only in words, but by a 
godly life, serving Thee all the days of my life 
in holiness and righteousness, which is pleasing un- 
to Thee, until in the eternity to come I shall see 
Thee from face to face and shall join the grand 



137 

choir of the elect in their never-ending hymns of 
praise and thanks. Amen. 



15 

Prayer on the Day of the Visitation of Mary 

O benignant God, heavenly Father, how great is 
Thy grace, how unsearchable Thy mercy toward me 
a poor sinner. Thou didst send Thine only Son 
and have him assume human nature, that I might, 
by means of the blessed fruit of a virgin's womb, 
receive the divine blessing and continually be a 
blessed one of the Lord. For this great benefit I 
render heartfelt thanks, and at the same time I 
humbly pray Thee to enkindle my heart with the 
fervor of the Holy Spirit that my soul may mag- 
nify Thee and my spirit may always rejoice in my 
Savior. Oh, why should I not with due thanks ex- 
tol Thee, why should not my spirit take delight in 
Thee! Thou, O kind God, hast done great things 
unto me, not only in my creation and preservation. 
but also in the redemption of my soul, which Thy 
dear Son Jesus Christ has rescued from death, 
which he wedded to himself and promised to love 
eternally. O Lord, look upon me also in future 
with the eyes of Thy mercy as Thou didst look up- 



138 



on the Virgin Mary, and let Thy grace be ever 
with me, then I, too, will praise and magnify Thee 
for ever and ever. Amen. 



16 

Prayer on St. Michael's Day 

O FAITHFUL GOD, Thou Protector and Keep- 
er of the human race, Thou Lord of hosts, before 
whom stand a thousand times thousand, and whom 
ten times one hundred thousand are serving, by 
whom all things are created, the visible and invis- 
ible, the thrones and dominions, how ardent is Thy 
love to men, in that Thou dost assign to them from 
their childhood up Thy holy angels, those constant 
humble, kind, God-loving, obedient, true, and good 
spirits, those brilliant, heavenly flames of fire, 
those valiant heroes and and holy watchmen, who 
encamp round about such as fear Thy name. These 
our angels at all times see the face of our Father 
in heaven and stand before Thy throne, and by the 
means of these angels Thou dost protect the three 
estates Thou hast ordained on earth. O Thou faith- 
ful God, what is man that Thou esteemest him so 
highly? We render Thee eternal praise and thanks 
for this blessing that Thou hast set forth Thy min- 



139 

istering spirits, to minister to them who shall be 
heirs of salvation. We pray Thee, Thou wouldest 
charge Thine angels to keep us on all of our ways, 
that they may bear us up on their hands, lest we 
dash our foot against a stone; that we may tread 
upon the lion and adder, and trample under foot 
the young lion and dragon. Drive far from us all 
evil spirits, who are murderers and liars from the 
beginning. Preserve us from their wrath and rage, 
from their lies and blasphemies, from their wiles 
and deceit, that they may not sow tares among the 
wheat in our hearts. Restrain the lying spirits in 
the mouths of all false prophets, the spirit of mur« 
der in tyrants, the spirit of vanity and of avarice 
in the family. Let Thy holy angels at all tim.3S 
accompany us as they did Jacob; let them protect 
us as they did the prophet Elisha, let them bring 
us bread and water, yea, provide us with the horse 
and chariot of fire, as they did Elijah, that is to 
say, let them give us wholesome counsel and con> 
fort. Let them be with us in our trials, as they 
were with the three men in the fiery furnace and 
with Daniel in the lion's den; let them rescue us 
from our perils, leading us out of them as they 
led Lot out of fiery Sodom, Peter out of prison and 
Paul out of the shipwreck. Let our country, home, 
family, and all we possess be under the protection 
of Thy holy angels, as was the house of Job, so that 



140 

the enemy can make no inroad upon us. Let us 
live in Thy fear and love, Thy Word and Gospel, 
into which the angels desire to look. Give us true 
repentance in our hearts, so that the angels in 
heaven may rejoice over us. Kindle ardent prayer 
and the praise of Thy name in our hearts, that we 
may perform an angel's office in singing with them : 
Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God of Sabaoth. And 
finally do Thou have our souls borne by angels into 
Abraham's bosom, and on the day of resurrection 
make us like unto the holy angels, that we may be 
in their company forever. Amen, 



17 

Prayer on Reformation Festival 

O LOED JESUS CHRIST, Who didst come in- 
to this world to call sinners to repentance and to 
enlighten all men unto life eternal, we praise Thee 
with our whole heart and thank Thy great good- 
ness and mercy, that Thou didst not only enter at 
this place and in this church and congregation with 
Thy divine Word and the holy Sacraments, and 
didst purge out the leaven of papistic doctrine and 
idolatry, but, that Thou hast also redeemed us poor 
sinners from the realm of darkness, called us to 



141 

the light of Thy holy Gospel and translated us into 
the kingdom of grace. 

O Lord Jesus, we are not worthy of the least of 
Thy mercies and Thy truth, but we pray Thee with 
an humble heart to remain with us also in future 
with the divine Word and the holy Sacraments, that 
Thy holy name may be known among us, be alone 
feared and honored and we all live according to 
Thy divine pleasure and serve Thee. But what- 
ever we have done amiss against Thee and Thy 
holy Word, in being disobedient to the Gospel, do 
Thou graciously forgive, and do Thou not, because 
of our sins, take from us this soul-saving treasure, 
but preserve it in its purity with us and our de- 
scendants. Yea, Lord Jesus, preserve unto us Thy 
Word for it is our hearts' comfort and joy. 

Protect and keep us and Thy whole Christian 
Church — particularly Thine Evangelical Lutheran 
Church — from all error, unbelief and other harm- 
ful doctrine. Restrain all enemies, persecutors, 
and blasphemers, and be Thou our reliance, our 
strength, our shelter and shield, that the gates of 
hell may not prevail against us. Especially do we 
pray Thee, Lord our Redeemer, to enter the house 
of our heart, to enlighten us by the Holy Ghost, 
to cleanse our hearts and graciously to grant, that 
we walk worthy of the Gospel, and continue to the 
end of our days in the truth once known and con- 



142 



fessed. Lord Jesus, let our souls obtain Thy 
salvation, so that we, being saved through Thee, 
may forever behold Thee in Thy kingdom and Thy 
great glory. Amen, Lord Jesus, Amen. 



18 

A Prayer on the Day of Church Dedication 

LOED GOD, Heavenly Father, Thou didst at 
this place gather unto Thy dear Son Christ Jesus, 
through Thy Word and Holy Spirit, a church and 
holy congregation among us, and hast preserved us 
against the devil and all enemies, yea, against the 
gates of hell: we pray Thee, O good and faithful 
God, let us and our dear children continue in the 
possession of this valuable and precious treasure 
that we, being instructed in the saving truths, may 
grow and increase in these, until we shall receive 
our everlasting habitation in the kingdom of Thy 
Son Jesus Christ, our Lord, who with Thee and the 
Holy Ghost is blessed forever. Amen. 



143 

19 

Prayer on Harvest Festival 

O GIVE Thanks unto the Lord, for He is good, 
and His mercy and truth endure forever. Thank 
the God of heaven, because His goodness endureth 
forever. Let Israel now say, that His mercy en- 
dureth forever. Let the house of Aaron now say, 
that His mercy endureth forever. Let them now 
that fear the Lord, say, that His mercy endureth 
forever. 

O what fears we entertained, lest the fruits of 
the field be destroyed; what cares and misgivings, 
lest we be deprived, before our very eyes, of the 
bread God has bestowed upon us in these hard 
times! But it is the Lord's mercies that we are 
not consumed, because His compassions fail not; 
they are new every morning. Now thank ye all our 
God, who wondrous things hath done at all places, 
who from our mother's arms sustained our lives, 
and blessed us with countless gifts of love. O God, 
give peace to Thy land, prosperity and happiness 
to every estate. O Lord God, heavenly Father, 
who dost grant a holy courage, good counsel and 
right works, give that peace to Thy servants that 
the world cannot give, that our hearts may cling 
to Thy commandments, and we, by Thy protection, 



144 

may pass our time quietly and secure from our 
enemies, through Jesus Christ, Thy dear Son, our 
Lord. Amen. 

And now, O Lord, we realize and confess with 
thankfulness of heart, that Thou didst give us our 
early and latter rains in due season, and didst keep 
faithful watch over our harvests each year. Thou 
hast watered our ridges abundantly, and hast set- 
tled the furrows thereof: Thou didst make it soft 
with showers : Thou didst bless the springing there- 
of. Thou hast given increas to our grain and 
growth to our land. Thanks, honor, praise, and 
glory be unto God the Father, Son and Holy 
Ghost, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever 
shall be, world without end. Amen. 

We also pray Thee, beloved God and Father, 
from the inmost of our hearts, give unto us Thy 
Holy Spirit, that we may receive with thankful- 
ness what Thou hast bestowed upon us, and sanc- 
tify it with Thy Word and prayer. Grant that these 
temporal blessings be devoted to Thy honor and 
applied to the support of ourselves and our 
churches and schools, including our needy neigh- 
bor, and at the same time that the harmful and 
despicable love of money and the cares of this life 
be most diligently avoided. Protect this place and 
the whole country from the dangers and distress of 
war, from hostile invasions and devastations. Give 



145 



to our beloved government the spirit of wisdom, of 
counsel, of power and strength. Confirm and pre- 
serve among us the peace we value. Let us pass 
the days of our sojourning in true knowledge of 
Thy holy name and in Thy fear; also in health of 
body, peace, and unity, and finally do Thou grant 
unto all of us eternal salvation, for Jesus Christ, 
our Lord and Savior's sake. Amen. 



20 

Prayer on Mission Festival 

O ALMIGHTY GOD, Thou didst create the 
world and all that is therein, and hast made of one 
blood all nations of men for to dwell on the face 
of the earth: Thou art not far from every one of 
us; for in Thee we live and move and have our be- 
ing. Thou who in times past didst suffer the Gen- 
tiles to walk in their own ways, but now command- 
est men everywhere to repent and with Thy grace 
dost visit the hearts of the Gentiles: We pray 
Thee, let the light of Thy countenance shine upon 
us, that Thy salvation may bud forth at all places, 
and the honor of Thy name extend to the ends of 
the earth. Look down from heaven upon the dis- 
tress of so many people (nations), who are still 



146 

sitting in darkness and the shadow of death, ig- 
norant of their divine origin and lying under the 
cruel tyranny of the devil. The light that lighteth 
all men that have come into this world, hath not 
risen for them. They are walking in the vanity 
of their minds. Their mind is shrouded in dark- 
ness. They are estranged from the life that is of 
God, by reason of the ignorance that is in them 
and the blindness of their hearts. The God of this 
world has blinded their minds, and the common 
enemy of souls has captured them according to his 
pleasure. 

Do Thou grant, O merciful God, that we profit 
from the misfortune of others to our salvation, and 
on the one hand deplore the miserable condition of 
blindness, wherewith Thou hast smitten the hea- 
then, but on the other hand apply the light given 
us of grace to better purpose for our sanctification. 
Let the light of the Gospel rise unto those that as 
yet are far from Christ, the true sun, and are grop- 
ing in the dense darkness of idolatry. Do Thou, 
by the attractive voice of the Gospel bring these 
scattered sheep back into Thy spiritual fold. Give 
unto us shepherds that do not rule harshly and 
severely over the sheep nor devour their substance 
and clothe themselves with their wool, but who 
minister unto the weak in the spirit of love and 
gentleness, who restore the sick, bind up the wound- 



147 



ed, bring back the erring, seek the lost, and in their 
life and walk present themselves as living examples 
for the nock. And since the Gospel message of 
the love of God as revealed in Christ is the only 
means of reconciling men with God and returning 
the lost sheep to the fold of Christ : Do Thou grant 
that all who go forth to preach the Gospel to the 
heathen, proclaim this word of reconciliation with 
wisdom from on high, that they overcome all ob- 
stacles with undaunted courage, and, setting aside 
all selfish ends in administering so sacred an office, 
that they seek naught else than the honor of Thy 
name and the advancement of Thy kingdom. Grant 
that they clearly recognize the mystery of the 
cross to be the center of our evangelical doctrine, 
and not pretend to know anything among the Gen- 
iles, save Christ Jesus and Him crucified, but extol 
Him as the hope of glory and the fountain of sal- 
vation, through our Lord Jesus Christ, the great 
Shepherd and Bishop of our souls. Amen. 

21 
From Casper Neumann's ' 'Cream of Prayers" 

Prayer of Thanks 

O LOED GOD FATHEE, Son and Holy Ghost, 
Thou art the almighty God of heaven and earth, 



148 

and in Thee we live, move and have our being. 
Thou didst decree that man should live of bread 
and for that reason didst, at the beginning, make 
the earth fruitful by Thine almighty word; and 
after the days of the flood, Thou dids promise that, 
while the earth remaineth, seed time and harvest 
should not cease. Behold, O Lord, this law of 
Thine, once established, still obtains; Thou dost 
continue to crown the year with Thy goodness. 
Thou causest grass to grow for the cattle, and 
grain for the good of man. Thou bringest forth 
bread out of the earth and dost fill our hearts with 
joy and gladness. How wisely Thou didst arrange 
all things, O Lord! And how great Thy goodness 
towards us is, who are not worthy of Thy bread. 
And how wonderfully infinite Thine omnipotence 
is in greatly multiplying the seed that decays in 
the soil. And it is this Thy unsearchable wisdom 
and Thine unspeakable goodness, grace, and omnip- 
otence, which visited our land also this year. Men 
had sown their seed in hope, and Thou hast hither- 
to blessed the fruits of the field and hast permit- 
ted us to see the times when every one reaps and 
garners into his barns what Thou hast given. O 
Lord, Thou God of riches, all that men harvest is 
indeed Thine, for we cannot, of ourselves, cause 
anything to spring forth out of the earth, so if we 
get much or little, it is nevertheless more than we 



149 



deserve. Thanks, therefore, be to Thy holy name 
for each and everything, that Thou hast given us 
in our fields this past year. Thou alone art the 
God that didst sustain us from early infancy and 
dost bestow on us all manner of blessings. Where- 
fore to Thee alone be praise, honor and thanks, now 
and in eternity. Amen. 

Petition 

AND WE Now beseech Thee, O beneficent Fa- 
ther, do not take from us again in Thy wrath, what 
Thou hast already bestowed in grace. Thou Thy- 
self hast said in Thy word, that rain is not seem- 
ly in harvest; so do not suffer the blessing of the 
field, which Thou hast shown to our eyes, to be 
destroyed by adverse weather. And after the har- 
vest has been gathered in the barns and bins, pre- 
serve it from danger of fire and water, from thieves 
and dishonest stewards, from usurers and unscru- 
pulous grain speculators, and from all else that 
might deprive us of Thy gifts or destroy them. 
Furthermore, let us not forget that all things we 
receive come from Thee and are Thine. For this 
very reason do Thou grant that we may never be 
dissatisfied with what Thou givest ; that we may not 
waste any of it in wantonness or frivolty; that we 
may not, moved by greed, envy and hard hearted- 



150 

ness, close our hearts against our needy neighbor, 
nor show distrust toward Thee by doubts and cares 
that what Thou hast bestowed would not suffice. 
But since we shall need Thy providing care also 
in future, do Thou not suffer our fields to remain 
untilled, because of Thy wrath, that they may not 
lie idle and become unfruitful when being neg- 
lected. Do Thou prevent whatever, after this har- 
vest, might hinder the tilling of the fields. And 
that we may not have any years in which we sow, 
but do not reap, grant, O Lord, that neither frost 
nor heat, neither excess of wet or dry weather, 
neither insects nor anything else destroy the seed 
in the ground which is our hope of future suste- 
nance. 

Prayer 

Be Thou with us, O gracious and loving Father, 
and preserve unto us our daily bread, which 
during the present harvest Thou dost everywhere 
distribute. Above al 1 things bestow favorable wea- 
ther with continued sunshine, so that the grain 
may mature and be saved. Bless the garnered grain 
in the bin and when being prepared for our nour- 
ishment; bless it when being partaken of, and 
grant us life and health, peace and quietness, so 
that whatever Thou dost bestow may not only 



151 



give strength to the body, but also be profitable to 
the soul, and thus this temporal blessing of Thine 
redound doubly to our welfare. Make us mindful 
also, when Thou bestowest all these things, of our 
obligations to Thee, and grant that we recognize 
all Thou givest to be the resume of Thy goodness, 
so that we may render Thee heartfelt thanks, be 
saving with our means without stinting our needs, 
be liberal to others, and, in short, devote all we 
have of Thee to Thine honor alone. Do Thou con- 
tinue to visit our land with Thy grace; do Thou 
develop and enrich it. Give warmth to the soil 
by the rays of the sun, and water to the field by 
the fruitful rain; give drink to the furrows, and 
moisture to the plowed ground ; give Thine increase 
to what shall be sown, so that the land may con- 
tinue to yield and our fields be abundant in crops, 
to the end that we may shout for joy and sing Thy 
praise forevermore. 

Intercession 

O LOED, Thou indeed art the God who daily 
openest Thine hand and satisfiest the desire of ev- 
ery living thing. Therefore, do Thou also during 
the time of this present harvest provide for alJ 
people, and let every one be fed with food con- 
venient for him. Let each one be attentive to his 



152 

calling that the sluggard may not sleep in the time 
of harvest and neglect the best interests of himself 
and family. Do Thou moreover sustain those who 
in the sweat of their brow gather their bread and 
ours; refresh them when tired, and after harvest 
let each one with his kin enjoy in good health what 
his field brought forth, that all of us may delight 
in Thy goodness. Do Thou also grant that the rich 
do not place their trust in their well-filled barns, 
forgetting that their souls may be summoned, when 
they least expect it, and that another may inherit 
what they had gathered. Lord, remember the 
poor, who have nothing to harvest ; make our hearts 
willing to gather for them, and reward those that 
allow them to glean on their fields, or give them 
of their surplus. In short, bless the scant supply, 
that it may suffice ; and so rule that abundance may 
not be misused for bad purposes. Preserve peace 
and quiet in all lands, that the strangers do not 
come and devour our harvest. Do Thou everywhere 
prevent failures, hard times, and famines. Fur- 
thermore we pray Thee to ward off from us what- 
ever might render our livelihood difficult. Rather 
let each one be contented and satisfied with his lot, 
that both rich and poor may recognize Thy power 
and may praise Thee forevermore. — Finally, O 
Thou Savior of all men, we ourselves are Thy 
spiritual handiwork in Thy Church, and Thou art 



153 



the Lord of the harvest, therefore we pray Thee to 
send laborers into Thy vineyard, and cause also 
Thy harvest of men to be abundant at all places; 
grant that everywhere good seed be sown on Thy 
fields and that the pure doctrine be preached 
among all Christians. Preserve the world at large 
from the tares strewn broadcast by the devil. Con- 
vert those that sow in unrighteousness and reap in 
sorrow, or sow unto the flesh and of the flesh reap 
destruction. But do Thou sanctify every one of us, 
that we may be of a Christian mind, sow unto the 
Spirit, and of the Spirit at one time reap life ever- 
lasting. Yea, when this whole world shall be fully 
ripe for the last harvest, then do Thou grant that 
we, as pure as wheat, bound in sheaves be gathered 
into Thy barns and be preserved in heaven unto 
everlasting joys. There shall we, according to Thy 
promise, reap without ceasing, and rejoice as one 
rejoices in harvest, with joy unspeakable. Hear us, 
O God, and grant all we ask, for the sake of Thy 
dear Son, Jesus Christ. Amen. 



* 



154 

Appendix II. 



HYMNS 
Morning Hymn 

God who madest earth and heaven, 
Father, Son and Holy Ghost, 

Who the day and night hast given, 
Sun and moon and starry host, 

Thou whose mighty hand sustains 

Earth and all that she contains: 

2 Praise to Thee my soul shall render, 

Who this night hast guarded me; 
My omnipotent Defender, 

Who from ill dost set me free : 
"Free from danger, anguish, woe 
Free from the infernal Foe. 

3 Let the night of my transgression 

With nights darkness pass away: 
Jesus, into Thy possession 

I resign myself to-day. 
In Thy wounds I find relief 
From my greatest sin and grief. 

4 Grant that I may rise this morning 
From the lethargy of sin: 

So my soul, through Thy adorning, 
Shall be glorious within; 

And I at the judgment day 

Shall not be a cast-away. 



155 

5 Let my life and conversation 

Be directed by Thy Word; 
Lord, Thy constant preservation 

To Thine erring child afford. 
"Nowhere but alone in Thee 
From all harm can I be free. 

6 Wholly to Thy blest protection 

I commit my heart and mind. 
Mighty God! to Thy direction 

Wholly may I be resigned. 
Lord, my Shield, my Light divine, 
O accept and own me Thine ! 

7 Lord, to me Thine angel sending, 

Keep me from the subtle Foe ; 
From his craft and might defending, 

Never let Thy wanderer go, 
Till my final rest shall come, 
And Thine angel bear me home. 



Evening Hymn 

Since now the day has reached its close, 
And sunlight shines no more, 

In sleep the toil-worn find repose, 
And all who wept before. 

2 But Thou, my God, no rest dost know, 
No slumber dims Thy sight. 
Thou hatest darkness as Thy foe, 
For Thou Thyself art light. 



156 

3 O Lord, I pray remember me 

Throughout the shades of night, 
And grant to me most graciously 
The shield of Thy great might. 

4 Turn from me Satan's tyranny 

Through many an angel-arm, 

Then shall I be from danger free, 

And safe from every harm. 

5 I know the evil I have done 

Doth cry aloud to Thee ; 
But yet the mercy of Thy Son 
Hath full atoned for me. 

6 Him I present Thee as my Bail, 

While suppliant at Thy feet; 
With such assurance I'll not fail 
Before Thy judgment seat. 

7 And therefore now I close my eyes, 

And sleep with tranquil breast ; 
Why waste the time in fears or sighs? — 
God watches o'er my rest. 

8 Away, vain, idle thoughts, depart! 

Koam not my soul abroad ! 
For now I build within my heart 
A temple to my God. 

9 Should this night prove the last for me 

In this dark vale of tears, 
Then lead me, Lord, in heaven to Thee 
And my elect compeers. 



157 

10 And thus I live and die to Thee, 
Thou Sabaoth strong, indeed! 
In life and death Thou helpest me 
From every fear and need. 



Cross and Comfort 

Commit whatever grieves thee 

At heart, and all thy ways, 
To Him who never leaves thee, 

On whom creation stays. 
Who freest courses maketh 

For clouds, and air, and wind, 
And who care ever taketh 

A path for thee to find. 

The Lord thou must repose on 

If thou wouldst prosper sure, 
His work must ever gaze on 

If thine is to endure. 
By anxious care and grieving, 

By self-consuming pain, 
God is not moved to giving ; 

By prayer must thou obtain. 

Thy grace that ever floweth, 

O Father! what is good, 
Or evil, ever knoweth, 

To mortal flesh and blood. 
What to Thine eye all-seeing, 

And to Thy counsel wise 
Seems good, doth into being, 

O mighty Prince arise! 



158 

For means it fails Thee never, 

Thou always findst a way, 
Thy doing's blessing ever, 

Thy path like brightest day. 
Thy work can no one hinder, 

Thy labor cannot rest, 
If Thou design'st Thy tender 

Children should all be blessed. 

Though all the power of evil 

Should rise up to resist, 
Without a doubt or cavil 

God never will desist; 
His undertakings ever 

At length He carries through; 
What He designs He never 

Can fail at all to do. 

Hope on, thou heart, grief -riven, 

Hope, and courageous be, 
Where anguish thee had driven 

Thou shalt deliverance see. 
God, from Thy pit of sadness 

Shall raise thee graciously; 
Wait and the sun of gladness 

Thine eyes shall early see. 

Up! up! to pain and anguish 

A long good night now say; 
Drive all that makes thee languish 

In grief and woe away. 
Thine 'tis not to endeavor 

The ruler's part to play, 
God sits as ruler ever, 

Guides all things well each day. 



159 

8 Let Him alone — and tarry, 

He is a Prince all- wise, 
He shall Himself so carry, 

'Twill strange seem in thine eyes. 
When He, as Him beseemeth, 

In wonderful decree, 
Shall as Himself good deemeth, 

O'errule what grieveth thee. 

9 He may, awhile still staying, 

His comforts keep from thee 
And on His part delaying, 

Seem to have utterly 
Forgotten and forsaken 

And put thee out of mind, 
Though thou'rt by grief o'ertaken, 

No time for thee to find. 

10 But if thou never shrinkest, 

And true dost still remain, 
He'll come when least thou thinkest, 

And set thee free again, 
Thee from the load deliver, 

That burdeneth thy heart, 
That thou hast carried never 

For any evil part. 

11 Hail ! child of faith, who gainest 

The victory alway. 
Who honor's crown obtainest, 

That never fades away. 
God in thy hand will give thee, 

One day the glorious palm; 
Who ne'er in grief did leave thee, 

To Him thou'llt sing thy psalm. 



160 

12 O Lord, no longer lengthen 

Our time of misery, 
Our hands and feet to strengthen 

And until death may we 
By Thee be watched and cared for, 

In faithfulness and love, 
So come we where prepared for 

TJs is our blessed abode. 



Beloved, "It is well!" 

God's ways are always right ; 
And perfect love is o'er them all, 

Though far above our sight. 

2 Beloved "It is well!" 

Though deep and sore the smart, 
The hand that wounds knows how to bind 
And heal the broken heart. 

3 Beloved "It is well!" 

Though sorrow clouds our way, 
'Twill only make the joy more dear 
That ushers in the day. 

4 Beloved, "It is well!" 

The path that Jesus trod, 
Though rough and straight and dark it be, 
Leads home to heaven and God. 



161 

The Christian Life 

Am I a soldier of the cross, 
A follower of the Lamb ? ... 

And shall I fear to own His cause 
Or blush to speak His name? 

2 Must I be carried to the skies 

On flowery beds of ease, 
While others fought to win the prize, 
And sailed through bloody seas ? 

3 Are there no foes for me to face? 

Must I not stem the flood? 
Is this vile world a friend to grace, 
To help me on to God? 

4 Sure I must fight, if I would reign: 

Increase my courage, Lord! 
I'll bear the toil, endure the pain, 
Supported by Thy Word. 

5 Thy saints, in all this glorious war, 

Shall conquer, though they die; 
They see the triumph from afar 
With faith's discerning eye. 

6 When that illustrious day shall rise 

And all Thine armies shine 
In robes of victory through the skies, 
The glory shall be Thine. 



162 

Death and Eternity 

Abide with me! fast falls the eventide; 
The darkness deepens; Lord, with me abide! 
When other helpers fail, and comforts flee. 
Help of the helpless O abide with me' 

2 Swift to its close ebbs out life's little day; 
Earth's joys grow dim, its glories pass away; 
Change and decay in all around I see; 

O Thou who changest not, abide with me ! 

3 Not a brief glance I beg, a passing word, 

But as Thou dwell'st with Thy disciples Lord: 
Familiar, condescending, patient, free, 
Come, not to sojourn, but abide with me. 

4 Come not in terrors as the King of kings, 

But kind and good, with healing in Thy wings; 
Tears for all woes, a heart for every plea; 

Friend of sinners, thus abide with me! 

5 Thou on my head in early youth didst smile. 
And, though rebellious and perverse meanwhile. 
Thou hast not left me, oft as I left Thee: 

On to the close, O Lord, abide with me ! 

6 I need Thy presence every passing hour : 

What but Thy grace can foil the Tempter's pow- 
er? 
Who like Thyself my guide and stay can be? 
Through cloud and sunshine, O abide with me! 

7 I fear no foe, with Thee at hand to bless: 
Ills have no weight, and tears no bitterness. 
Where is death's sting ? where, grave, thy victory ? 

1 triumph still, if Thou abide with me ! 



163 



8 Hold Thou Thy cross before my closing eyes, 
Shine through the gloom, and point me to the 

skies : 
Heaven's morning breaks, and earth's vain 

shadows flee; 
In life, in death, Lord, abide with me! 



I Fall asleep in Jesus' wounds, 
There pardon for my sins abounds; 
Yea, Jesus' blood and righteousness 
My jewels are my glorious dress. 
Wherein before my God I stand, 
When I shall reach the heavenly land. 

2 With peace and joy I now depart, 
God's child I am with all my heart; 
I thank thee, death, thou leadest me 
To that true life where I would be. 
So cleansed by Christ I fear not death. 
Lord Jesus, strengthen Thou my faith! 



"Forever with the Lord!" 

Amen! so let it be; 
Life from the dead is in that word, 

'Tis immortality. 



164 

2 Here in the body pent, 

Absent from Him I roam, 
Yet nightly pitch my moving tent 
A day's march nearer home. 

3 My Father's honse on high, 

Home of my soul! how near 
At times to faith's fore-seeing eye 
The golden gates appear ! 

4 Ah! then my spirit faints 

To reach the land I love, 
The bright inheritance of saints, 
Jerusalem above ! 

5 "Forever with the Lord!" 

Father, if 'tis Thy will, 
The promise of that faithful word 
E'en here to me fulfill. 

6 Be Thou at my right hand, 

Then I can never fail; 
Uphold Thou me, and I shall stand, 
Fight, and I must prevail. 

7 So when my latest breath 

Shall rend the veil in twain, 
By death I shall escape from death, 
And life eternal gain. 

8 Knowing as I am known, 

How shall I love that word, 
And oft repeat before the throne. 
"Forever with the Lord !" 



165 



Appendix III. 



A MOTHER'S PRAYER 
Prayer of a Mother for Wayward Children 

ALMIGHTY GOD, Merciful Father, attend to 
the petitions of Thine handmaid, and forgive me 
all my sins for the sake of Thy dear Son Jesus 
Christ. Graciously hear me as I pour out my 
heart before Thee in my great sorrow. For be- 
side Thee there is no God to help me, I know of 
none other, to whom I may flee for succor. In 
Thee is my hope, Thou art my God from the day 
of my birth. Lord, Thou knowest the cause of my 
sorrow, before Thee is all my desire, and my sighs 
are not hid from Thee. Thou beholdest the grief 
which fills my heart on account of the disobedience 
and wickedness of my son (my child). As .a pre- 
cious gift from Thy hand did I receive him (it) 
and . to Thee did I again consecrate him (it) in 
.Holy Baptism. In heartfelt prayer have I daily 
commended him (it) unto Thee, and have ever 
sought to exhort him (it) to every good deed, (in 
order) that he (it) might walk uprightly before 



166 

Thee, and be guided by Thy Word. But how 
shamefully has he (it) departed from the way, and 
suffered himself (itself) to be misled by the devil 
and evil companions. From a vessel of honor, hal- 
lowed to Thee, he (it) has become a vessel of wrath, 
and must needs perish forever, unless Thou wilt 
graciously cleanse him (it) with the blood of Thy 
dear Son, Jesus Christ, and save his (its) poor 
soul. O Lord, look upon him (it) in mercy, for 
the sake of the most perfect obedience of Thine 
own dear Son; remember not the sins of his (its) 
youth, nor his (its) many transgressions. Take 
his (its) poor soul into Thy tender care, that it 
may not perish, but may be plucked as a brand 
from the burning fire, and saved from eternal dam- 
nation. 

O Jesus, precious Savior, Thou hast no pleasure 
in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked 
turn from his way and live. Therefore, Thou 
didst become obedient to Thy Father in heaven un- 
to death, even the death of the cross, and didst 
render satisfaction for the disobedience of all the 
children of men. Grant, I beseech Thee, that Thy 
suffering and dying for this wicked one may not 
be in vain, but do Thou guide him (it) by Thy 
Spirit, that he (she) may learn to see the error of 
his (her) way, consider well the punishment now 
and hereafter, in store for wayward children and 



167 

impenitent sinners, and (may) turn to Thee in 
true penitence. 

Lord God, Holy Spirit, who dwellest in the 
hearts of men and rulest them according to Thy 
good pleasure, Thou hast taught many a prodigal 
son to see and bewail his wicked course, moved him 
to turn again to his Father, and become a new 
man. Unto Thee do I cry; do Thou incline the 
heart of my wayward son (child) to that which 
is good, renew his (its) mind, lead again his (its) 
feet into the path of true godliness, and turn him 
(her) (it) that he (it) may henceforth walk the 
way of Thy commandments to do them. Grant, that 
he (it) forsake the company of the wicked, and like 
the prodigal son, may ere long come back and say: 
I have sinned against heaven and before Thee, 
and am no more worthy to be called Thy son; in 
order that I with all my household may rejoice and 
say: Let us make merry and be glad, for this my 
son (child) was dead and is alive again, (and) was 
lost and is found. Likewise there will be joy in 
heaven among the angels of God over thr- sinner; 
then will I also with all* my powers praise and extol 
Thee for this Thy mercy, in time and in eternity. 

O Lord, Thou triune God, have mercy upon me, 
hear my prayer, comfort and strengthen me in my 
great affliction. Restore unto me the joy of Thy 
salvation for the honor of Thy holy name. Amen. 



168 



Prayer of a Mother before being Delivered of a 
Child 

LOKD GOD And Father in heaven! The time 
has now come when, by Thy will, I must travail in 
labor. To Thine Almighty care do I resign myself 
with body and soul. Deal with me according to the 
good pleasure of Thy Fatherly will, and as Thou 
knowest it to be good for me. O Lord Jesus Christ, 
when Thou hadst instituted Thy Holy Sacrament, 
Thou didst in Thy parting words to Thy disciples, 
speak of the labor and anxiety of the woman about 
to be delivered, and also of her joy after the birth 
of the child, in order that Thou mightest comfort 
Thy Christians in their tribulations. I beseech 
Thee, by Thine agony and bloody sweat, by Thy 
death on the cross, strengthen me with the help 
and comfort of Thy Holy Spirit, in order that also 
I, after the anxiety and pain is past, may be made 
glad at the sight of the new-born babe, and the 
deliverance from my pain. But, if (indeed) the 
hour of my death has come, and I must give up my 
life in the travail, I pray Thee with all my heart 
not to let Thy bitter suffering and death be in 
vain for me, a poor sinner. My husband and my 
helpless little children I commend to (Thy care) 
Thee, who art called the Father of the orphans. 



169 



For I know that only while I live, am I to (have) 
care of them. Therefore, into Thy Fatherly hand 
do I entrust and commit everything; as Thou wili- 
est, it is all well. Should longer life be vouchsafed 
me, I will serve Thee as long as I am in this world. 
If I now die, it is Thou who takest me in my ap- 
pointed station to eternal life. To Thee, Father, 
Son and Holy Ghost, be glory, praise, and honor, 
now and f orevermore. Amen. 



Thanksgiving after a Happy Birth 

O GEACIOUS And merciful God, Thou, who 
through Thy gracious dealing with us, hast shown 
that Thou art the only true God, who callest into 
being that which is not, and raisest up from the 
dead, Thou hast graciously given us a living child. 
For this we should, are in duty bound, to thank Thee 
as did aforetime Elkanah and Hannah, Zacharias 
and Elizabeth, and others, whom Thou didst won- 
derfully and graciously bless with children. Accord- 
ingly we now offer Thee our humble praise for such 
unspeakable grace and gift, and pray Thee, Thou 
wouldst grant us grace, that this child with others 
which Thou may est bestow unto us, may grow up 
in Thy fear and nurture, and in good health; that 



170 

it may increase in virtue unto the end, that it may 
be pleasing unto Thee and unto us a source of joy 
without shame and disgrace, and we may here and 
hereafter honor and praise Thee, our Lord and 
Creator. Amen. 



Prayer of a Husband at the Birth of a still-born 
Child 

DEAR FATHER In Heaven, since it hath in 
Thy wisdom pleased Thee to take this, our child 
out of this life at its birth unto Thyself, we bow in 
humble submission to Thy will. And we doubt not 
that Thou hast heard our earnest prayer and for 
the sake of Thy dear Son, hast graciously taken 
it to Thyself in heaven, where it is preserved from 
all the evil which it must have endured in this 
wicked world. Moreover, I thank Thee, with all my 
heart that Thou hast preserved the life of my be- 
loved wife in this present travail, and hast snatched 
her, as it were, out of the very jaws of death, and 
given her anew to me and my helpless children. 
Grant, O Lord, that she may recover her strength 
which she had well nigh lost in this great labor. 
Then will I praise and glorify Thy great mercy 
here and hereafter, through Jesus our Lord. Amen. 



171 

Prayer of a Mother who has given Birth to a 
Deformed Child. 

GRACIOUS, Merciful God, I thank Thee 
with all my heart, that Thou hast with Thine Al- 
mighty hand delivered me from danger to my body 
and life, and hast graciously relieved me of my 
burden. But because Thou hast given me a de- 
formed child, and wouldst thereby uncover to 
me my spiritual frailty and the deformity of my 
corrupt nature, together with the heinousness of 
my sins, help me, Thou faithful God, that I may 
see these my weaknesses and henceforth guard 
against sin. Do Thou grant spiritual health and 
cleansing to my child through the water of Bap- 
tism, and in compensation for its bodily deformity, 
give the fear of God, and other good gifts and 
virtues, and thus make it meet for heaven. Grant 
also to me Thy grace that I may not loathe this 
child, on account of its deformity, but may love it 
as the creature of Thy hand, cherish it and bring 
it up as becometh a Christian mother. This I ask 
for the sake of Thy dear Son, Jesus Christ. Amen. 



172 



Prayer before being Subjected to an Operation 

MY LOED And my God, to whom shall I flee for 
succor in this my great distress, which Thou hast 
allowed to come upon me, save to Thee, who hast 
commanded, "Call upon me in the day of trouble, 
and I will deliver thee and thou shalt glorify me !" 
Thy hand has smitten me, Thy hand will also make 
me whole again. (Thou hast cast me upon the bed 
of pain and brought me nigh unto death; Thou 
canst raise me up again that I may live before 
Thee.) 

I confess before Thee that I have with my many 
shu, deserved not only Thy Fatherly chastening, 
but also eternal punishment. But I am heartily 
sorry that I have offended Thy Majesty, and have 
not kept Thy holy Law. But I know that Thou, O 
Father of mercies, hast no pleasure in the death 
of the wicked, but that the wicked may turn from 
the error of his way and live. Therefore, do I 
now turn to Thee with a contrite spirit, and pray 
Thee to forgive all my sins. Be merciful unto me, 
O Lord, for I am desolate and forsaken ; deliver me 
from all evils that afflict me. Cast me not off 
according to my deserts. O God, be not angry with 
me, enter not into judgment with Thy servant, for 
whom Thy Son hath made atonement. 



173 

I firmly believe that if any man sin, we have an 
Advocate with Thee, Jesus Christ, the Righteous, 
and He is the propitiation for our sins. In Him 
is my hope, on His atonement and intercession do 
I fully rely in this hour to obtain grace and mercy 
from Thee. Of this am I persuaded, that I am and 
will remain Thy child, because Thou hast given the 
Spirit of Thy Son into my heart, who crieth with- 
out ceasing, "Abba, Father," and intercedes for me 
with groanings which cannot be uttered. There- 
fore, because Thou art my God and Father, Thou 
wilt not forsake Thy child, even as a Father pitieth 
his children. 

O Thou that healest Israel, bless the means 
which I am about to use in Thy name to regain 
my health, and grant to the physician (and to the 
surgeon), wisdom and skill for the difficult work 
which he is to do, direct his hand and grant a hap- 
py issue. Endow me, Thou God of patience and 
comfort, with Christian patience and fortitude, 
that I may pass through this ordeal with calmness. 

And if, according to Thy counsel, I must die 
during this approaching operation, grant that I 
may be gathered with the elect into life everlast- 
ing. Keep me in true faith in my Lord and Savior, 
Jesus Christ, and in my last hour, grant that I 
may think of nothing, save His Cross and bitter 
death, and may enter through His wounds into the 



174 

Paradise of Heaven. May Thy Holy Spirit bear 
witness with my spirit, that I am a child of God 
and an heir of Heaven. May my last words be 
those with which Thy dear Son closed His lips in 
death: "Father, into Thy hand I commend my 
spirit." Amen. 

Prayer for a Happy Death 

CHRIST, Our dear Lord and Savior, grant us 
grace that we may not fall into temptation, but 
keep us pure and blameless in the simplicity of 
the true faith, and deliver us from all evil 
through a happy departure from this vale of tears, 
from the kingdom of Satan and the wicked world. 
To Thee be thanks and praise, together with the 
Father and the Holy Ghost forever. Amen. 

Prayer of a Dying Person for his Family and 
Friends 

MEKCIFUL GOD, Faithful heavenly Father, 
Thou art bringing my life to a close, and wouldst 
take me into Thine eternal kingdom in Heaven, 
where I would fain be with Thee. But since I 
am leaving my family and my friends in great sor- 
row, I pray Thee for the sake of my Intercessor, 



175 



that Thou wouldst comfort them richly in their 
tribulation. Turn not away from them, withdraw 
not Thy tender hand from them, but cause them 
to see and feel that Thou canst care for them, as 
well without me as through me. May they in due 
time follow after, into the happy home above, 
where we shall altogether with one accord praise 
and adore Thee without end. As Thou gavest them 
to me, so do I entrust them to Thee again; faith- 
ful Father, Thou wilt deal with them more tender- 
ly than these sorrowing ones can think. I cast all 
my care for them upon Thee, Thou wilt abundant- 
ly provide for them. Amen. In Jesus' Name. 
Amen. 



* 



176 

Appendix IV. 



PRAYERS FOR CHILDREN 

i. Morning 

a. I thank Thee, my Heavenly Father, through 
Jesus Christ, Thy dear Son, that Thou hast kept 
me this night from all harm and danger; and I 
pray Thee that Thou wouldst keep me this day 
also from sin and every evil, that all my doings and 
life may please Thee. For into Thy hands I com- 
mend myself, my body and soul and all things. 
Let Thy holy angel be with me, that the wicked 
foe may have no power over me. Amen. 

b. O Holy, blessed Trinity, 
Divine, essential Unity, 

God Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, 
Be Thou this day my Guide and Host. 
My soul and body keep from harm, 
O'er all I have extend Thine arm, 
That Satan may not! cause distress, 
Nor bring me shame and wretchedness. 

c. Holy Jesus, every day 
Keep me in the narrow way, 

And when earthly things are past, 
Bring my ransomed soul at last, 
Where it needs no star to guide, 
Where no clouds Thy glory hide. Amen. 



177 

2. Evening 

a. I thank Thee, my Heavenly Father, through 
Jesus Christ, Thy dear Son, that Thou hast gra- 
ciously kept me this day; and I pray Thee that 
Thou wouldst forgive me all my sins where I have 
done wrong and graciously keep me this night. For 
into Thy hands I commend myself, my body and 
soul, and all things. Let Thy holy angel be with 
me, that the wicked foe may have no power over 
me. Amen. 

b. ^Now I lay me down to sleep, 

I pray Thee, Lord, my soul to keep; 
If I should die before I wake, 
I pray Thee, Lord, my soul to take; 
This I ask for Jesus' sake. Amen. 

c. Jesus' blood and righteousness 
My jewel is and festive dress, 
With this shall I 'fore God prevail 
When I the heavenly portals hail. 

d. Lord Jesus, who dost love me, 
O spread Thy wings above me, 
And shield me from alarm! 
Though Satan would devour me, 
Let angel-guards sing o'er me, 

"This child of God shall meet no harm!" 

My loved ones, rest securely, — 
From every peril surely 
Our God will guard your heads. 
May He sweet slumbers send you, 



178 



And bid His hosts attend you, 
And golden-armed, watch o'er your beds! 
Amen. 

e. Lord Jesus, Thee I live, 

Lord Jesus, Thee I die, 
Lord Jesus, Thine I am, 
Living or dying, Lord. Amen. 

3. Before Meals 

a. The eyes of all wait upon Thee, O Lord, and 
Thou givest them their meat in due season; Thou 
cpenest Thy hands and satisfiest the desire of every 
living thing. Amen. 

b. Lord God, Heavenly Father, bless us, and 
these gifts which we receive from Thy bountiful 
goodness, through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen. 
c. Praise God, from whom all blessings flow; 

Praise Him, all creatures here below; 

Praise Him, above, ye heavenly host ; 

Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen. 

4. After Meals 

a. We thank Thee, Lord God, Heavenly Father, 
through Jesus Christ, our Lord, for all Thy bene- 
fits, who livest and reignest for ever and ever. 
Amen. 

b. Glory be to God most high, 
Glory to the Savior, 
Glory to the Holy Ghost, 

Now, henceforth, forever. Amen. 



179 

Appendix V. 



Form for Emergency Baptism 

AH unite in the Lord's Prayer. 

OTJK FATHEE, who art in heaven; hallowed be 
Thy name; Thy kingdom come; Thy will be done 
on earth as it is in heaven ; give us this day our 
daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses, as we 
forgive those who trespass against us. And lead 
us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. 
For Thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the 
glory, for ever and ever. Amen. 

The person baptizing may then say: 

Christ, at Thy command we offer this child to 
Thee. Keceive it and let it be an heir of Thy 
kingdom, as Thou hast said: "Suffer the little chil- 
dren to come unto me, and forbid them not; for 
of such is the kingdom of God". 

Those present say: 

Amen. 

The person baptizing says: 

1 baptize thee in the name of the Father, and 
of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen. 

In case of necessity for extreme haste, one may proceed at once to take 
water and baptize, saying: 

I baptize thee in the name of the Father, and 
of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen. 



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